Baker on Ross, the bullpen and Murphy's defense

ST. LOUIS - The skies have cleared, the field has been prepped and the starting pitchers have made their way to the bullpens to begin warming up. So it looks like we'll have baseball on time this afternoon. They'll just have to hope they get the full game in before the next wave of rain strikes sometime later. Could be a close call.

It's not an ideal scenario for Joe Ross to return to the mound after a 10-day layoff, but the Nationals don't have much choice in the matter. Ross, who was pulled after two innings in his last start with a blister on his right middle finger and then had his next start skipped, may be a bit limited today as far as his pitch count goes. The greater concern, Dusty Baker said, would be a delay after he's already started the game.

As for Ross' blister, here's what Baker said: "The finger looks ugly, but the skin has healed over, and the trainers have done a great job on it."

If Ross needs to depart early for some reason, the Nationals do have Yusmeiro Petit available for long relief, the right-hander having had a full five days off since his 77-pitch relief appearance against the Phillies.

They may not, however, have Jonathan Papelbon available today. Papelbon has pitched each of the last two days, and though he has told Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux he's good to go three in a row, they would like to avoid that this early in the season if possible. Something to keep an eye on if the Nationals hold a slim lead late.

If the Nats are going to take their second straight over the Cardinals (and secure only their second-ever series win in this ballpark) they probably need to play another strong game in the field, as they did last night. And really, as they've done all season to date.

The Nationals have committed a major league-low seven errors in 22 games, and only five of those have come on batted balls. They also rank second in the National League in defensive efficiency, according to Baseball Prospectus, while ranking fourth in the NL with 24 double plays turned.

The two guys most responsible for turning those double plays are Danny Espinosa and Daniel Murphy, who slowly but surely are rounding into form as teammates up the middle. The two turned an especially important double play last night in the bottom of the ninth, with Murphy ranging to his left to snag Brandon Moss' grounder and making a long, on-target throw to Espinosa, who then fired back to first in time.

Baker has been impressed with Murphy's defensive performance so far, despite what the veteran's reputation suggested before he signed with the Nationals over the winter.

"I think he's done an outstanding job, and he works at it," Baker said. "But you know, people always give you a negative reputation on something. I've been given reputations. Everybody out there has been given a reputation on something, and that's really an unfair part of baseball. ... Reputations don't mean anything to me. You start all over with a clean slate. Murph has done an outstanding job. And no one works harder on it than him. I'm sure he's aware of what people say. But hey, I don't care what they say. He's done an outstanding job."