Bryce Harper leads Nationals into Beltways series

Bryce Harper enters this weekend's series at hitter-friendly Camden Yards batting only .194 (7-for-36) in 10 career games against the Orioles, his third lowest mark against any club in the majors.

But this year's version of Harper is much more polished at the plate, where he has added patience and discipline to his approach. His .471 on-base percentage, .709 slugging percentage and 1.181 OPS leads all big leaguers while his .343 batting average is just seven points behind Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for the best mark in baseball.

Still the question remains if the Nationals are getting the most out of their young slugger. Long-term trips to the 15-day disabled list for Anthony Rendon (left quad strain), Jayson Werth (fractured left hand) and Ryan Zimmerman (left foot plantar fasciitis) along with recent nagging injuries to Denard Span (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness) have gutted the meat of the Nationals' lineup, leaving the red-hot Harper on an island in the batting order.

Nationals manager Matt Williams has experimented with many different lineup combinations in an attempt to maximize Harper's ability to reach base to be driven in. However, Zimmerman's 34 RBIs still stand as third most on the Nationals despite not playing since June 9.

"Well, I think it's a hot topic because Bryce is having such a fantastic season, but even if it's not Bryce, we want our guys to be competitive at the plate, regardless, and provide opportunity for everybody," Williams said. "So there's a lot made of who hits behind Bryce and who doesn't, but we understand that we want RBI guys back there because there's a great possibility he could be on base. And you want a little power there because with one swing of the bat, it can mean two. And when you have so many guys out, that may be important in that particular game.

"There's a million factors. Speed out in front of him. Who can get on base in front of him. Who's swinging the bat and who's hot, potentially, in front of him, in case he does get a pitch to hit and he can drive one. So there's a million different opportunities, but we just want to try to construct a lineup where we can get guys out there, get those opportunities and get them in."

The Nationals are craving another power bat to join Harper. Coming into the season, it looked as though the Nationals lineup would potentially be filled with 20-plus homer producers in Rendon, Werth, Zimmerman, Ian Desmond and Harper. But outside of Harper, not one Nationals player is projected to reach that mark.

Williams' bench has kept the Nats not only afloat but atop the National League East. And most of the contributions have come from unexpected areas. Danny Espinosa's nine home runs are second-most of the team while providing unmatched defense at five different positions.

Clint Robinson has gone from unknown commodity to a vital member of the lineup, many times following Harper in the cleanup spot in the order. On July 3, the Nationals offense was once again scuffling, managing two hits against Giants starter Jake Peavy until Harper drew a walk in the seventh. Robinson immediately followed with a two-run homer that held up for a 2-1 win.

Williams was asked if he was aware of the type of production his bench would give him coming out of spring training.

"I don't think you ever know that," Williams said. "We have some new guys. During the process of last winter, Clint Robinson was available and Mike picked him up. During the process of spring training and early in the season, Matt den Dekker was available, and we picked him up. That depth is key, because you never know what may come. The good thing is, we have guys that are available and can go out there and play at this level and produce and stem the tide until our regulars do return.

"It's a little bit of a unique situation thus far, because a lot of our regulars have been out awhile. And when they have played, they've played injured. So it's been unique in that regard. But, it's important for those guys, if they have that opportunity, to look at it as just that, a chance to just show. And they've all done that."

Williams' career paralleled with Cal Ripken's for 15 years. Dealing with one of the worst rash of injuries he has ever experienced as a player or manager, Williams marveled when reflecting on the Iron Man's durability heading into the series with the Orioles.

"I don't know how Cal did it," Williams said. "I wouldn't even venture a guess on how many at-bats he had, you know getting hit. Playing that position in the middle of the diamond with guys bearing down on you. I don't know how he did it. And took infield and batting practice every day. That's, needless to say, impressive."