Baker on resting five regulars, plus updates on Drew, Solis and Ross

After a 5-1 loss at the New York Mets last night and an early-morning arrival back in D.C. today, Nationals manager Dusty Baker decided to give five regulars the day off. Baker said he wanted to rest six players today but couldn't because of the depth problem at third base.

"Well, five regulars out, I'd have Anthony Rendon out, too, if I had a guy that could play third," Baker said. "Because of ESPN, who I like a lot, that game last night messed us up today because it was already scheduled 4:05 p.m. game today, but they changed that at the last minute. I got to bed at four o'clock in the morning. I was always told night time sleep is better than day time sleep."

Baker said he feels for the fans who came to this game to see Bryce Harper and company start, but he has to look bigger picture. The Nationals play 17 of their final 26 regular season games at Nats Park. But Baker has to worry about today. The Nats play 10 games in a row without an off-day.

"Some of my guys are walking around like zombies," Baker said. "That's the reason why. I'm not overlooking the Braves at all. I'm just trying to preserve and take care of my guys. Now I feel sorry for the fans who came out today to see their favorite players play. I can't help it.

"We got to blame the schedule-makers and the TV-makers for that. I got to take care of my team. I see the Harper jerseys as I was coming to the stadium today. Hopefully, try to get them in there to pinch-hit and nothing more if I can."

The good news is the club pushed back ace Max Scherzer's start until today, pitching Reynaldo Lopez last night at Citi Field. Baker said Scherzer is not worried about his lineup and who is playing and who is resting.

"Scherzer is the freshest guy in the clubhouse because he came early yesterday," Baker said. "I talked to him about it and he said, 'Hey man, this is my job'. He knows the responsibility. He knows how the guys are dragging butt. I'm trying to play fresh bodies and this is kind of like spring training and a lot of times my second team plays better than the first team."

Infielder Stephen Drew, on the 15-day disabled list since July 24 with vertigo-like symptoms, is playing for Single-A Potomac today. He was 1-for-2 as the designated hitter, batting second.

Is Drew close to returning?

"Maybe. Well, we think so," Baker said. "He's playing today and going to see the doctor in Baltimore that has been seeing him about his condition. The we have
(Wilmer) Difo coming back in a couple days. I'm going to tell Anthony because I know he's dragging. Everybody's dragging."

Baker had good news regarding left-hander Sammy Solis, who has been on the DL with left shoulder inflammation since Aug. 16. Solis could begin baseball related activities this week.

"He's ahead of schedule. That's what I've been told," Baker said. "He wasn't supposed to start throwing until next week. But I hear he's about to start throwing now. I haven't seen him today. I'll talk to him and see how he feels. I know he's champing at the bit. Nobody likes to be left behind. He had to stay behind to work out to help us at some point in time."

Right-hander Joe Ross, on the DL since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation, started for Triple-A Syracuse today and went three innings, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 42 pitches, 31 for strikes. It was his first game since August 31.