Nationals' Daniel Murphy 'ready' for Game 1 of NLDS vs. Dodgers
WASHINGTON – Dusty Baker still refuses to name a Game 2 starter for the National League Division Series, but he does have a better idea who his starting second baseman will be: Daniel Murphy.
The Washington Nationals manager said Thursday that Murphy, who finished second in the National League with a .347 average but has just three at-bats since Sept. 17 due to a glute injury, went through his most rigorous work yet and pronounced himself ready to roll.
“He says he’s ready,” Baker said, “so we think he’s ready.”
Earlier, Murphy took ground balls at second base during the Nationals’ final NLDS workout before taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 Friday. He told reporters he was “confident” he’d play Game 1.
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Baker, however, will hedge against Murphy’s health at least a little. Rookie Wilmer Difo, who has just 69 plate appearances over two seasons, will be on the Division Series roster.
“He can play all three infield positions,” says Baker of Difo, “and with Daniel Murphy still coming off injury, he gives us a possibility at second base late in the game and can run for Daniel Murphy, possibly.”
Murphy hit seven home runs last postseason, including three in the New York Mets’ five-game conquest of the Dodgers in the NLDS. He went on to homer in a postseason record six consecutive games.
His ailment is only one of several vexing the Nationals. The loss of Stephen Strasburg to a flexor mass strain has thrown the playoff rotation into flux beyond Game 1 starter Max Scherzer.
Tanner Roark, a 16-game winner, would seem the natural choice, but Baker and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo have refused to anoint him. The Nationals could be preparing for the specter of returning to Scherzer on three days’ rest in Game 4 should they lose Game 1.
Gio Gonzalez is another Game 2 option, given the Dodgers’ struggles against left-handers.
“It’d be easier,” Baker mused, “if we had Strasburg.”
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