With Strasburg returning, Baker details plan for Jacob Turner

DENVER - The Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the paternity list Thursday. Earlier this week, Strasburg and his wife, Rachel, welcomed their second child, a baby girl.

The club optioned left-hander Matt Grace to Triple-A Syracuse. Grace got four outs allowing one hit in a scoreless appearance here last night.

That means the Nationals have decided to keep right-hander Jacob Turner, who started Monday night's game. Turner pitched a quality start, going six innings, scattering six hits and allowing three runs with no walks and six strikeouts. The only real blemish was Mark Reynolds' two-run shot in the sixth.

Manager Dusty Baker said they will use Turner in maybe more than one role. He said they could use Turner in a bridge role Sunday if Joe Ross can't go more than five innings.

"Well, the plan is to pitch. That's his plan," Baker said. "He'll start out probably in the bullpen. We got to get Joe together, so that gives us that extra arm. We know he can give us multiple innings. He throws strikes. We need to know the resiliency of his arm. And we feel his arm is more resilient that Joe Ross' has been. That's the plan right now."

The plan is for Max Scherzer to start Friday's home series opener against the Mets with Strasburg pitching Saturday. The Nationals listed Ross as the starter for Sunday.

Baker said they have not yet sat down with Turner to discuss his specific role, but the bottom line is he is available to pitch out of the bullpen.

"No, I haven't talked to him at all because we just made the decision this morning," Baker said. "Joe's relieved some, too, but doesn't have the experience that Turner has. I'm sure he'll be happy just to be here. Beats the alternative no matter what the role is."

Turner impressed the club in spring training. The 25-year-old then pitched well for Triple-A Syracuse. A circumstance presented itself and the Nationals called him up. Baker said Monday's quality start made Turner a viable candidate to remain with the club.

"Well, that helped," Baker said. "And plus, he wouldn't have gotten this opportunity had Stras' wife not had a baby. At least he wouldn't have gotten this opportunity this early. This goes to show you, I try to tell all these guys every at-bat, every inning counts because you are either impressing us or somebody else."

Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon each get a day of rest in Thursday's road trip finale. Baker said he plans to rest Zimmerman every once and awhile even with his recent power streak.

"I got to try to rest him every four, five or six days," Baker said of Zimmerman. "I know it's hard to rest him because he's hot. (Adam) Lind's pretty hot too we don't want him to cool off. We're resting Anthony as well because (Wilmer) Difo really hasn't played since Turner's return. Anthony's played all but the first two games that he missed plus he's feeling a little bit under the weather like a lot of my team is."

Baker had a great response when asked about what he knows about the Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela.

"Well, not much," Baker said. "The way I look at it, they haven't faced an offensive club like ours yet."