Baker confirms Lopez will make third start Saturday

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that right-hander Reynaldo Lopez will make his third major league start for the Nationals on Saturday night against the Braves.

Baker said Lopez gets the call in part because that was his start date with Triple-A Syracuse. He also likes Lopez in that spot because of the long road trip starting Monday in the Mile High City.

"Well, that's his day and also this will be our last opportunity give these other guys an extra day off," Baker said. "Because this 20 in a row is at this time of the year is going to be very, very instrumental in how we end up and its also tough on your pitching staff. Especially when you are going to Colorado from here and we are there for four days.

"You might sweep them, but I've been in that division over there and we would sweep them sometimes but your pitching staff is in a bad way when you leave from there because you had to use everybody. You never really feel comfortable there and they play well there. And they're never out of a game there and your lead is not safe there. It's tough to know when to take your pitcher out of the game or leave him in the game."

The temperatures are certainly to a sweltering level in D.C. today. The Nationals finished batting practice early at 5:16 p.m., even though they are allotted until 5:30 p.m. each game at home. Baker said the temps in Atlanta are always known to be extremely hot this late in August as well.

"You know it's going to be hot in Atlanta, I mean big time hot," Baker said. "Then we leave from there and go to Baltimore in that offensive park against with that offensive team. We come right here and play them again. I think we got Colorado again after that. It's a pretty good stretch where you're just trying to store up kind of our acorns as far as our pitching staff is concerned."

The Nationals will need to make a corresponding move to have Lopez activated for Saturday's start. With right-hander Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation, July 3) still on the shelf, there is a bit of frustration in having to make moves every time they need that fifth starter.

"I'd rather settle on one guy but it depends on the person," Baker said. "If one guy steps up then that'll make our decision a lot easier. We'll see. Everybody likes a set program if you have versus having to mix and match. But you do what you have to do."

The Nationals will need to make a decision as to what move they will make on Saturday to call up Lopez. Will it be a stunning move like pitcher Jonathan Papelbon? Or more likely Brian Goodwin, where you could then send Lopez down after the start and call up a Michael A. Taylor or Matt den Dekker for the road trip.

Lopez suffered his first loss in almost two months at the minor league level on August 7, giving up five runs and five hits over six innings against Scranton-Wilkes Barre. He is 0-1 with a 9.35 ERA in two starts for the Nationals.