Baker on juggling days off against desire to win (Nats win 3-2)

Daniel Murphy's omission from Monday's starting lineup was a clear indication that Nationals manager Dusty Baker is still keen on using the final week before the All-Star break to give his key players a rest here and there.

All the Nationals' All-Star second baseman has done since bolting Flushing for D.C. is torch the Mets, his former team and the first squad up on a seven-game homestand heading into the break. In 29 career games against his ex-Mets mates, Murphy is slashing .391/.441/.704 with 10 doubles, a triple, eight homers and 29 RBIs.

But for Monday's opener of a three-game series against the Mets, Murphy got a blow.

"He'll be back in there tomorrow," Baker promised.

With 49 games over a 52-day span, Baker is cautious of the need to selectively rest his players for fear of overextending them. And he hinted that tomorrow's lineup for an 11:05 a.m. July 4 matinee might also lead to an unusual lineup.

"We'll do some alternative lineup tomorrow with the 11 o'clock game," Baker said. "Just got to go with the schedule and try to keep them healthy and try to finish strong this last week (before the All-Star break)."

With the Nationals not getting in their homes until after 4:30 a.m. this morning after traveling from St. Louis following their Sunday night game, three games at three different starting times in three days presents a unique challenge.

So how does Baker juggle the need to win games with the desire to rest his players?

"I always have a conversation, but sometimes I get input and sometimes I just do it," he said. "Depends on what I see. ... I just do what my eyes (tell me)."

With five players - pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Murphy and right fielder Bryce Harper - heading to Miami for next Tuesday's All-Star Game, Baker said another round of selective days off could be in the offing. The Nationals head to Cincinnati for four games out of the break beginning a week from Friday.

If all he had to worry about was any of his players appearing in the Midsummer Classic, Baker's job would be easier. But there are functions and family time, parades and other obligations.

"I might have to rest a guy or two after the All-Star Game," Baker said. "I see from years of experience, a lot of guys who go to the All-Star Game, they come back cold. Cold. Real cold - because they didn't get a chance to rest mentally or physically. Because the All-Star Game will drain you."

Update: Right-hander Jacob Turner, who was designated for assignment to open up a 25-man roster spot when Sammy Solís returned from the disabled list, has cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals plan to stretch Turner out and use him as a starter.

Strasburg is through three scoreless innings, and so far the Mets offense has consisted of two singles - a 25-foot swinging bunt by Yoenis Céspedes with two down in the first and a two-out single up the middle by José Reyes in the third. Reyes was thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Matt Wieters for the inning's final out.

The Nats have had two runners on in each of the first two innings, but have yet to score. Brian Goodwin singled and Michael A. Taylor walked in the first, but Harper was caught looking at a third strike and Zimmerman grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.

In the second, Wilmer Difo reached on a two-out infield single and Adrian Sanchez was safe when shortstop Reyes booted his grounder. But Strasburg skied to right.

We head to the fourth in a scoreless tie.

Update II: Strasburg walked the bases loaded in the fourth, but for Travis d'Arnaud looking at a third strike to end the inning. He got the Mets 1-2-3 in the next two innings, but has now thrown 94 pitches through six innings.

We're scoreless heading to the seventh.

Update III: Matt Grace is on to work the eighth after seven scoreless frames from Strasburg, who yielded two hits, walked three and struck out six. He threw 105 pitches, 72 for strikes.

Update IV: The Nats escaped trouble in the eighth to keep the game scoreless. Brandon Nimmo led off by reaching on an infield single and was bunted to second by Matz. He tried to score on Reyes' single to left, but Goodwin gunned him down at the plate, Wieters applying the sweep tag.

The Mets challenged that Nimmo was safe and that Wieters had improperly blocked the plate, but replay review denied both challenges. Reyes took second on the throw and Grace was pulled after walking Asdrúbal Cabrera. Joe Blanton came in and got Céspedes to ground into a forceout at second.

The Nats finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth against lefty Jerry Blevins. Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn drew a one-out walk and Taylor deposited a 91 mph sinker on a 2-1 pitch into the seats in right-center, his 12th homer of the year, for a 2-0 lead.

Update V: Solís worked around T.J. Rivera's one-out single, getting Lucas Duda to strike out looking. Matt Albers came on and served up a game-tying homer to pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson, who ripped an 0-2 pitch into the right-center stands.

Update VI: Wieters led off the bottom of the ninth by drawing a walk, but Difo couldn't bunt him to second. Josh Edgin replaced Paul Sewald and waked pinch-hitter Stephen Drew. Pinch-hitter Adam Lind lined out to center, with Wieters advancing to third. Mets skipper Terry Collins made a double-switch, bringing in Fernando Salas to pitch and Wilmer Flores to play first base. Raburn lined a game-winning single to left, which was upheld after a review.