Harper in nice rhythm after Home Run Derby, reversing recent trend

Nationals manager Davey Martinez elected to place first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the No. 7 hole in the lineup in Friday's matchup against the Reds. This is the first time Zimmerman will bat seventh in a game this season. Zimmerman has started 24 games in the No. 7 hole, out of 1,536 career major league starts.

Martinez said the emphasis wasn't on Zimmerman being dropped down that far in the order, but rather the groupings of hitters he wanted to keep in place. Adam Eaton, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper start the lineup.

"I just like those guys grouped together," Martinez said. "My thinking is, the way we're swinging the bats just try to score early and get those lefties up as much as possible. Has nothing to do with Zim. I like that group together right now. They seem to be doing well."

Harper continues in the cleanup role and has been in getting into a nice rhythm at the plate. There have been 12 games since the All-Star break. In the past 15 games, Harper has slashed .327/.429/.635.

Last season, the Yankees' Aaron Judge struggled at the plate after winning the Home Run derby in Miami during the 2017 All-Star break.

In 2016, Giancarlo Stanton had 20 homers before the break, and only seven after returning for the second half of the season. In 2015, Todd Frazier had 25 homers prior to the All-Star break, just 10 following the derby.

So does Harper's second half so far disprove the adage that participating in the Home Run derby hurts your swing post-All Star break?

"I think Harper is just a really good hitter," Martinez said. "I think throughout the course of the year he was eventually going to come out of it. And he's starting to do so now. What I do know is that he fed off the fans that day, and when he won he said to me he said 'Man, the fans were my big key.' He turned around and fist-pumped and got them all revved up. I think right now he's playing with a lot of heart. He appreciates what the fans did to him that day. I think that has a little bit to do with it."

Martinez points to Harper's return to going with pitches and using the opposite field. When Harper is connecting to center and left fields, and not pulling or forcing a pull on every pitch, he is lethal.

"I think he's staying on the ball a little bit better," Martinez observed. "And he's actually really concentrating on swinging at strikes. Those are the two things that we've talked to him a lot about and he's really, really focusing on staying in the strike zone and not chasing balls up. And really trying to work good at-bats and not try to do too much. Especially runners in scoring position. I told him sometimes we just need a base hit. He's hitting the ball the other way. And when he's really good that's what he does.

"I see him just trying to hit the ball hard and stay in the middle of the field, and that's when he's really good."