Martinez on Turner benching and Harper's sickness

MILWAUKEE - Manager Davey Martinez planned to speak to shortstop Trea Turner during pregame Tuesday as the Nationals prepare for the Brewers. Martinez decided to bench Turner for tonight's game after the shortstop didn't run to first base on a bunt attempt in Monday's 6-1 loss.

"I haven't talked to him yet but (the) conversation will be had," Martinez said. "Honestly, I really felt after yesterday he really needed a day off. He's available, but let him ponder about it and let's get him right. We need Trea. Trea's a very good player.

"I don't ask these guys to be perfect, but I want them to be present every day. I know he knows that so. I got a lot of respect for him and he'll be back in there."

Martinez said he takes no joy in removing his everyday shortstop, but he sensed Turner could use the day off.

"It kills me more than it probably kills him," Martinez said. "It really does. You never want to do things like that. And it hurts. It hurts me. As he knows I voted for him 250 times for the All-Star team. I'm a big Trea fan and I think he knows that."

Bryce Harper was in the original starting lineup tonight, but was scratched a few minutes after the team arrived 3 1/2 hours prior to the game. Michael A. Taylor moved into the lineup in center field and will bat sixth.

"He's got a little stomach issue," Martinez reported. "I'd rather have him available coming off the bench. I don't know if he can actually play. Stomach is bothering him, so if he can come off the bench and help us that way would be good."

Is it a flu bug that could go through the clubhouse?

"I just hope it's one guy right now," Martinez said.

Martinez decided to start Ryan Zimmerman again, even though Matt Adams has torched right-handed pitchers all season. Martinez said he wanted to give Zimmerman back-to-back games in hopes of getting him on a roll fresh off the disabled list.

"I wanted to give Zim a couple of days in a row and then we will play it out and see what happens tonight. I got to get him in there. He's a big part of what we do here and our success. They are going to both play. They know that. I just want to give him two days in a row."

As in the outfield, where Michael A. Taylor doesn't get as many starts as he did earlier in the season, Martinez has the dilemma of finding ways to get Adams starts now that Zimmerman is back and available.

"It's really tough," Martinez said. "Matt's done an unbelievable job. He has. But the game in progress, here comes a spot where you can put Matt Adams in, or even a Zim in when he's not playing. That's also really good, too. And yesterday, keep the game 3-1 you got Reynolds and Matty on the bench. That's pretty good. And they get it. He's going to get his four at-bats when he plays. They know when an opportunity arises some big moments will come up and he gets a chance to knock in some runs."

Martinez said he has kept Taylor up-to-date on his limited playing time and told the center fielder not to take it personally.

"We talked yesterday. And I said, 'You can only control what you can control, and that's you being you. So, when you get a chance to play, just be yourself. Do whatever you can to help us win.

'You can't control the decisions I make,' I told him. 'You are a big part of our success. You will be. And you are going to play. These things have a way of working things out. Keep your head up. You are doing great.'

"I appreciate him very much and he gets it."

Starter Jeremy Hellickson has been outstanding this season and tonight gets the opportunity for his fifth win in his 14th start. His ERA is 3.29, which, if the season ended today, would be his best mark since 2012 with the Rays.

"He knows he has a job to do and he competes," Martinez said. "Every fifth day he goes out there and he competes and he gets outs. He's been really, really good for us. Really good. Other than the fact that he was sick that one day and went out there and gave us everything he had, he's been really good."

A lot of the talk with the Nats 'pen centers around the Big Four of Sean Doolittle, Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson and Brandon Kintzler, and with good reason. But the bullpen has also recently been fortified with quality pitching by left-hander Matt Grace and right-hander Shawn Kelley. Grace has a 2.68 ERA and Kelley is at 2.67.

"They've been unbelievable," Martinez said. "I've asked them to do a lot more than they have probably done in the past. And they have accepted the role and they have been really good. Kelley comes in yesterday and throws 10 pitches. Matt, I know he has pitched seven out of 10 days, but they are always available. When I call upon them, they go out there they take the ball and they do their jobs. They've been really good for us."

Why is Grace so good?

"He throws strikes," Martinez said. "He attacks the strike zone. He's not afraid to come in. Keeps guys off balance. But the biggest thing is he goes in there and pounds the strike zone."