Baker confirms youngsters will start Sunday to give veterans rest

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Stephen Strasburg will make the start Sunday not because the Nationals will necessarily have a chance to clinch the National League East division title but really because he has just been very good recently.

"He's got a pretty good thing going right now," Baker said.

Strasburg is 2-1 with a 0.67 ERA in his last four starts, striking out 31 batters in 27 innings, allowing two earned runs.

Left fielder Jayson Werth is still on the sidelines with a sore shoulder. Baker said they need him close to 100 percent for the postseason.

"We want him to get well," Baker said. "We feel like that's more important than him at the plate to get his timing because if you're not well, the timing doesn't do anything, it just creates bad habits. Me and Jayson talk every day. We decided this weekend no, because we have an off-day Monday. Then we will reassess the situation Tuesday."

Werth was hit by a pitch during a rehab game a couple of weeks ago.

"He got hit by a pitch, which you are always afraid of when they go down and have these rehab assignments because a lot of them would be in the big leagues if they had control," Baker said. "The lights aren't as bright as our lights. You are always afraid of that. And then some kid trying to overthrow, which I don't blame them, so he can say he got so and so out and he's ready for the big leagues."

Baker reflected on veterans like Werth, Anthony Rendon, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman and confirmed he will take advantage of the September call-ups, going with a totally different starting lineup on Sunday. The Nats' magic number is currently at three.

"I'm playing all the youngsters tomorrow because we are kind of reeling and these guys have given me all they have," Baker said.

Baker further stated he will give two of his most important bullpen arms the night off Saturday.

"Today we'll do something different because we don't have either one of them," Baker said. "We don't have (Brandon) Kintzler or (Sean) Doolittle. We were hoping not to use Doolittle last night. Everybody wonder why we used him in a non-save situation the time before. That was because we don't want him to come out there in trouble. Last night was like him starting a fresh inning, no outs, one run game, nobody on base and win this game."

Doolittle has made an appearance in five of the last seven Nats games since Sept. 2, and two in a row. Kintzler has appeared in five of the last eight Nats games and also two in a row.

Baker said he will likely start Pedro Severino as his catcher for Sunday's game.

Bryce Harper was seen warming up with 90-foot throws in right field with one of the Nats trainers. He even jumped for a slightly high return throw and came down with no problems on both legs.