Taylor scratched from lineup, but Rendon returns

MIAMI - The Nationals wrap up their 20-games-in-20-days stretch this afternoon, and not a moment too soon for a club that sorely needs a day off because of all the players they have dealing with soreness.

Michael A. Taylor was added to that list today, scratched from manager Dusty Baker's original lineup due to an unspecified injury.

"He's a little injured," Baker said. "Quite a few guys are kind of ailing, injured. We've played a lot of ball in a lot of days. We knew yesterday he was a little sore. We just don't want to take any chance of him getting really injured."

Baker said he couldn't reveal any more specifics about Taylor's ailment, citing "HIPAA rules." The center fielder has started 46 of 48 games since Adam Eaton suffered a season-ending knee injury on April 28, hitting .281 with eight homers, 24 RBIs and an .827 OPS.

With Taylor shelved, Brian Goodwin is sliding over to center field, with Ryan Raburn taking over as the starting left fielder.

On a more encouraging note, Anthony Rendon is back in the lineup after missing 1 1/2 games with a neck stinger. The Nationals were hopeful all along that Rendon wouldn't be out long, though it appears in an ideal scenario the club would've liked to give him another day off.

"He's a little sore, too, but Anthony said he could play," Baker said. "And especially with the need for (Daniel) Murphy to have a day off, that's where teammates pick up teammates. That's what teamwork is all about."

Both Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman are getting the final game of this long stretch off, taking advantage of Thursday's off-day to enjoy a full 48-hour break before returning to the field Friday night for the first of 17 consecutive games heading into the All-Star break.

"I told Murph and Zim about a week ago to 'give me all you've got, and then you'll have today and tomorrow off,' " Baker said. "Then come back strong for these 17 days before the All-Star Game."