Why Martinez chose tonight to sit Harper for the first time

SAN DIEGO - Bryce Harper joked a few times recently about wanting to be an "Iron Man" and play in all 162 of the Nationals' games this season. Deep down, the star slugger knew that wasn't going to happen. It was only a matter of time before he got a day off.

And that day is today.

With a left-hander on the mound for the Padres and Harper mired in an 0-for-19 slump, manager Davey Martinez decided to sit him down for tonight's series finale at Petco Park. That decision came only after a pair of conversations following Tuesday night's win, with Harper at first reluctant to take a seat before conceding.

"We talked a little bit again," Martinez said. "We both decided a day off would be good for him."

Harper had started each of the Nationals' 37 games to date, the only player on the roster to make it this far without a day off. Martinez intended to sit him earlier, but the combination of injuries to other members of his lineup and Harper's own production convinced him to wait.

"As you know, I'm a big believer in rest," the manager said. "I've been wanting to give him a day off. We've talked a lot about it. He's just so good. It's hard to give him a day off. But I thought this would be the best day."

Harper was one of only 12 major leaguers who had started each of his team's games to date this season, one of only three who had started 37 games. The other two, coincidentally enough, are the Padres' Freddy Galvis and Jose Pirela, each starting his 38th consecutive game tonight.

Not that days off are uncommon for any big leaguer, even the biggest stars. Only two players started in all 162 games last season (the Royals' Alcides Escobar and the Reds' Joey Votto), and only two did it in 2016 (Escobar and the Orioles' Jonathan Schoop).

Martinez isn't a big fan of letting a player start every game.

"For me, not only is it about 162, but it's also about 163, 164, 165 and so forth," he said. "You've got to keep that in mind, and we do. I've been to the playoffs a lot as a coach now. And rest matters. It really does."

With Harper sitting tonight, Michael A. Taylor was bumped up to the leadoff spot. It may seem like an odd move for a guy stuck in his own 0-for-17 slump, but Martinez believes the center fielder will get more fastballs to hit in the No. 1 position against funky San Diego lefty Joey Lucchesi.

"I like Taylor against this guy today," the manager said. "Plus, I really want to jumpstart him and make him feel good about himself. And I think this is a perfect opportunity to get him up there and see if we can get him some pitches to hit."

Meanwhile, reliever Matt Grace's return from a sore left groin is going to be delayed at least a few days after the left-hander woke up this morning sore following a one-inning appearance Tuesday night for Triple-A Syracuse. Grace, who retired three of four batters and threw 14 pitches, will get two days off and then be re-evaluated. The Nationals had hoped he'd be ready to return from the disabled list this weekend.

The news is better on Brian Goodwin, who after being shut down due to a recurrence of pain in his left wrist was cleared today to resume swinging in West Palm Beach and said he felt better. The Nationals will wait to see how Goodwin feels Thursday before deciding how to proceed.