Matt Williams on Michael A. Taylor: "I think he's answered the question"

Nationals manager Matt Williams gave Michael A. Taylor a night off with right-hander Jose Fernandez on the mound and the Marlins throwing two left-handers the next two days.

Taylor has struggled at the plate since banging his right knee on the center field wall at Nationals Park while trying to make a leaping catch against the Padres on Aug. 27. The 24-year-old missed seven games dealing with bruising and swelling around the knee, which limited him in the field and on the basepaths.

Since injuring his knee, Taylor is slashing .189/.232/.264 with 17 strikeouts in 15 games.

"I think he's venturing out of the strike zone a little bit more than he has been," Williams said before tonight's game. "Physically, he's OK. I think his knee is a little bit better than a week ago. He's still got some swelling, so we're mindful of that as well. He's fine. He's in unchartered territory as far as a long, full season like this. He got a little bit of taste in September last year, but to play every day, he's played a lot."

Taylor launched a homer in his major league debut when he was called up last September. He ended up hitting .205 (8-for-39) in limited action over 17 games in 2014. Taylor impressed in spring training and became the Nats' opening day center fielder and leadoff man with Denard Span starting the season on the DL.

When Span and Jayson Werth returned from the DL in mid-April, Taylor was sent to Triple-A Syracuse, where most assumed he would spend a fair amount of the season. However, Taylor only played eight games in the minors before the Nationals recalled him when Reed Johnson was forced to the DL in late April.

With Span and Werth continuing to battle injuries, Taylor became an everyday outfielder in mid-May. The rookie has slashed .234/.283/.375 with 14 homers, 14 doubles, two triples, 15 stolen bases and 61 RBIs.

"Any time you can learn at the big league level, it's important," Williams said. "I think he's answered, though. I really do. I think he's answered the question. He's been productive. His average with runners in scoring position is really good. He's showing the ability to cut the swing down in those situations in particular. He hit a few homers and stole a few bases and played great center field. So I think that on-the-job training is good for him. It certainly wasn't the plan going in, but it will be good for him in the long run."

Taylor has shown tremendous poise in pressure situations, batting .330 with 45 RBIs with runners in scoring position. His ninth-inning grand slam beat the Diamondbacks 9-6 in Arizona on May 13 and earlier this month, Taylor smacked a pinch-hit three-run walk-off homer to beat the Braves in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Span becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and the Nationals are unlikely to dig deep to sign the 31-year-old coming off an injury-plagued year, especially with the progress Taylor has displayed.

Taylor's approach to his first full season in the big leagues has impressed Williams.

"I think the mental grind of the whole thing is something that guys aren't used to unless you've been through it," Williams said. "Once you get through it, then you understand it. I know that Mikey in particular has embraced the opportunity and taken advantage of it. He's played pretty well. The mental part of it is the biggest thing. Going through the tough times and getting out of them. That's the experience that you gain through the whole process."