After playing the first three games of their season shorthanded because of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines, the Nationals reinstated four players from the injured list on Friday afternoon, ahead of their road series against the Dodgers.

Catchers Alex Avila and Yan Gomes, left-handed reliever Brad Hand and infielder Jordy Mercer were taken off the IL. Southpaw Patrick Corbin has been cleared to play, but he remains on the IL as the team assesses his readiness to start a game. He is slated to throw off flat ground on Friday.

¡°We left Spring Training with the roster set, and unfortunately things happened,¡± manager Dave Martinez said Friday afternoon. ¡°But to get these guys back, I¡¯m excited about that. They¡¯re excited about that. Their team members are excited about that. We¡¯ll get them back in the lineup as soon as we can.¡±

The five players received clearance from Major League Baseball, Washington and Los Angeles¡¯ protocols on Thursday, and they traveled on a flight to California on Friday morning. Avila, Gomes and Hand were able to get in reps by participating in sim games at the alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Va., prior to rejoining the team.

¡°I appreciate the fact they all wanted to be here as soon as possible,¡± Martinez said. ¡°But we¡¯ve got to be smart. They just flew across the country. We want to make sure they¡¯re hydrated and get a little rested. They¡¯re all available maybe later on to play if need be [minus Corbin], but to start them, for me, wouldn¡¯t be a good idea.¡±

Four players remain on the IL following the testing and contact tracing last week -- starter Jon Lester, first baseman Josh Bell, second baseman Josh Harrison and left fielder Kyle Schwarber. Martinez said they have not cleared protocols, but they ¡°feel fine¡± and have been able to do their own workouts at home.

Related roster moves

In subsequent roster moves, the Nats optioned No. 19 prospect Tres Barrera and right-hander Ryan Harper and added them to the taxi squad; optioned infielder Carter Kieboom to the alternate training site; returned outfielder Cody Wilson to the alternate training site; and placed infielder Adri¨¢n Sanchez, outfielder Gerardo Parra and lefty T.J. McFarland on the taxi squad.

¡°It takes more than 26 guys to win a championship,¡± Martinez said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep praising the guys that stepped up for us. They¡¯ve done well for us.¡±

Veteran Jonathan Lucroy remains on the 26-man roster, and he was in the starting lineup on Friday while Gomes and Avila get settled in Los Angeles. Lucroy has started three of the Nats¡¯ first four games of the season, and he drove in their first runs of 2021.

¡°I¡¯m going to sit with Riz [general manager Mike Rizzo] after today¡¯s game and come up with a game plan for [Lucroy],¡± Martinez said. ¡°So far, I like what he¡¯s done. He¡¯s a veteran guy, a guy that understands the game very well.¡±

First road trip of 2021

The Nationals traveled to Los Angeles after their doubleheader against the Braves on Wednesday. Martinez said the team followed the same protocols as they did last season.

¡°We did everything exactly the way we¡¯ve always done,¡± he said. ¡°I took about a three-hour nap, which was kind of nice. The flight was a little bumpy, but everything was the same.¡±

This year, though, Martinez had to navigate travel logistics after arriving on the West Coast. The team¡¯s day off turned into a flight-planning day for him after five players were cleared.

¡°I spent half the day yesterday on our off-day trying to figure all that stuff out,¡± Martinez said.

Fan capacity increased

The Nationals were cleared by the Washington, D.C., government to increase the number of fans permitted at their next homestand. Beginning Thursday, Nationals Park can host 25 percent capacity (more than 10,000), up from 12 percent (about 5,000) from their season-opening series.

Said the Nats in a statement, ¡°We are excited to welcome even more of our fans back to Nationals Park starting next Thursday when we take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. As the vaccination rate increases across the region, we look forward to welcoming more fans in the future.¡±