Why Harper sits today and why Scherzer starts Tuesday (updated)

Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup today for the first time this season, but don't start worrying about the MVP's health or any other ulterior motive for his absence. Manager Dusty Baker planned all along to sit Harper for his team's series finale against the Twins.

Harper did appear to slightly tweak his ankle Saturday chasing down a foul ball in right field, but he played the rest of the game and showed no ill effects. Regardless, Baker had previously offered hints he planned to give his 23-year-old star a day off in the very near future.

Harper and Daniel Murphy had been the only members of the Nationals regular lineup to start every game until this weekend, when Murphy sat out Saturday's matinee. It seemed only a matter of time before Harper sat as well.

The Nationals have Monday off - managers often like to sit players before an off-day to maximize their down time - but then embark on a stretch of 16 consecutive games, with a 10-day road trip to St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago sandwiched in the middle of it.

Baker long has subscribed to a belief that even the best players on a roster should take regular days off. He mentioned this spring advice he picked up from Hank Aaron when the two played together in Atlanta: Everybody should take at least two days off per month for non-injury reasons. The goal shouldn't be to play in 162 games, but to play in 150 instead.

Harper has now started 17 of the Nationals' first 18 games. If he maintained that schedule throughout, and missed no time due to injuries, he'd end up starting 153 games by season's end.

Meanwhile, though they haven't announced anything yet, the Nationals appear to be preparing to start Max Scherzer in Tuesday night's series opener against the Phillies, giving Joe Ross' blister more time to heal.

Ross' turn in the rotation comes next, but he was forced to leave his last start Wednesday night in Miami after a blister opened up on his right middle finger. The 22-year-old needs to throw off a bullpen mound before he's cleared to pitch again, but he only played long toss this morning.

Scherzer, meanwhile, did throw in the bullpen this morning, something he typically does two days before starts.

The Nationals have plenty of flexibility in this case: Because of Monday's off-day, every other member of the rotation could start on normal rest, with Ross skipped entirely until his next turn would come up Saturday in Kansas City.

Or if Ross is ready to pitch sooner, the Nationals could re-slot him into any other start this week, and in the process adjust their rotation order (something they've suggested they prefer to do anyway).

Update: The Nationals announced that Scherzer indeed will start Tuesday night. Gio Gonzalez (Wednesday) and Tanner Roark (Thursday) will round out the rest of the series against the Phillies, so Ross' next start remains TBA.