Schwarber, Turner, Harrison all banged up, but playing

As the baseball world was still up in arms over the theatrics of Joe Girardi asking umpires to check Max Scherzer for foreign substances for a third time Tuesday night, the Nationals were dealing with several injury scares late during their 3-2 victory over the Phillies.

Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Josh Harrison all were less than 100 percent healthy by the time Brad Hand escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. And though all three are back in the lineup for this afternoon's series finale at Citizens Bank Park, there's reason to watch them closely and hope nothing more serious is going on.

Schwarber, despite his torrid power streak at the plate, is still dealing with a sore right knee that first became an issue three weeks ago when he dove for a ball on the warning track in Atlanta. He had to be removed from the final innings of both Sunday's game in D.C. and Tuesday's game in Philadelphia as a precaution.

"He competes, loves to play," manager Davey Martinez said during today's pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He doesn't like getting taken out. So we've got to be smart. But if we can get him three at-bats, four at-bats and we have the lead, then it's the right thing to do, not only for the club but for him, to try to keep him healthier."

The knee hasn't bothered Schwarber enough to warrant a full day off yet.

"He was in early this morning getting treatment, getting loose," Martinez said. "He does everything. It doesn't seem to bother him when he hits. It's the sudden stops and goes where it acts up a little bit. He says he feels better, and then something happens and it starts aching him. So we've just got to be smart."

During Sunday's game, Gerardo Parra took over in left field for Schwarber to finish the game. Because Parra had already pinch-hit in the top of the sixth Tuesday night, it was Harrison moving out from the infield for the bottom of the ninth, with Jordy Mercer coming off the bench to play second base.

That led to a scary moment when, with the bases loaded and one out, Harrison collided with Turner while charging in to catch Odúbel Herrera's shallow fly ball. Turner fell to the ground and remained there for a brief while, though both players remained in the game (which only lasted one more batter).

Afterward, Turner insisted he was fine.

"It hurt in the moment, but all good," he said. "I'll be ready to go tomorrow."

Martinez did acknowledge today that Turner had "a slight headache" Tuesday night but said he was fine this morning and was indeed back in the lineup for the 71st straight game to begin this season.

Harrison, meanwhile, had "a little rib issue" from his portion of the collision. He, too, is starting today, back at his more familiar second base position.

Martinez attributed the dangerous play to Turner's inability to hear Harrison calling for the ball above the crowd noise. As the outfielder coming in, Harrison had the right of way to make the play, especially with the tying runner on third base in a one-run game.

"I think both of them, being so overly aggressive to catch the ball in a big moment, they couldn't hear each other," the manager said. "And they collided. J-Hay was playing very shallow at the time, because he wanted to throw the guy out at home plate. And Trea, as you know, was hauling butt to try to catch the ball, to make the play. And they just didn't hear each other calling for it."