Baker hoping for best during 20-game stretch (Nats lose 8-5)

Dusty Baker wanted his players to enjoy all the days off they've had recently, because he knows they won't be getting any more for quite some time.

The Nationals tonight open a stretch of 20 consecutive days with games on the schedule, a three-week span that includes parts of two homestands and parts of two road trips. This after the Nats just had three of the previous eight days off.

It's not exactly an ideal scenario for a ballclub, or for a manager trying to navigate his club through the dog days of August.

"Well, it doesn't matter how I feel; it's on the schedule," Baker said. "So I've got to figure out a way how to keep these guys strong, how to keep them competitive."

Baker suggested he plans to use this weekend's series against the Braves as an opportunity to rest many of his regulars. In addition to the injured Bryce Harper being out of the lineup tonight, shortstop Danny Espinosa also is on the bench for the first time in 11 games and only the second time in the team's last 27 games.

Others are expected to get at least one game off this weekend before the Nationals head west to face the Rockies next week.

"We're not overlooking Atlanta, by any means," Baker said. "But I'm trying to win now and in the future. You hope the guys get their rest."

The Nationals are facing the Braves and Rockies twice a piece during this stretch, with a four-game home-and-home series with the Orioles and a trip to Philadelphia also on the docket.

"This is a hot time in the schedule, and 20 in a row, and your gas tank's not full at this point," Baker said. "And it's not supposed to be. But I'm hoping that we have more gas than anybody that we're playing against, and hoping that the rest that we gave some of the guys earlier in the course of the year comes to our benefit now."

Update: The Nats got off to a ragged start tonight, with the Braves jumping on Stephen Strasburg for two quick runs. Freddie Freeman (who else?) doubled in a run in the top of the first, and Jace Peterson homered in the top of the second, leaving the Nationals in a 2-0 hole. But they have since bounced back to take the lead. Trea Turner delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the third. Anthony Rendon then crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, putting the Nats up 3-2 for now.

Update II: So much for that. The Braves have re-taken a 5-3 lead in the fifth thanks to a three-run homer by (who else?) Freeman. It has long been beyond ridiculous how much Freeman wears the Nationals out. And he just keeps on doing it, no matter the circumstances.

Update III: And the damage continues. Strasburg was pulled two batters into the sixth, his pitch count at 103. Matt Belisle entered and immediately served up a two-run homer on his very first pitch to Anthony Recker. That made it 7-3 Atlanta. The Nats did get one run back in the bottom of the inning on Brian Goodwin's infield single and first career RBI. But they still trail 7-4, with three innings left to rally.

Update IV: The Nationals are trying to get back in this game, but their bullpen keeps making the challenge tougher. Oliver Perez gave up a run in the top of the seventh without giving up a hit (he hit a batter and walked two, then watched as Blake Treinen gave up a sacrifice fly). Jayson Werth's RBI double in the bottom of the inning brought home a run for the Nats and extended Werth's streak of games reaching base to 41. But Wilson Ramos had an uncharacteristic, three-pitch strikeout while representing the tying run. And so it's an 8-5 deficit heading to the eighth.

Update V: That'll do it. Nats lose 8-5. They couldn't muster up anything after the seventh, so they drop the opener of this series. Strasburg falls to 15-3. It'll be Reynaldo Lopez tomorrow night here.