DENVER - Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Bryce Harper and Matt Wieters were not in tonight's starting lineup for the opener against the Rockies at Coors Field because they needed a day of rest.

With the Nats facing their first left-hander of the season in Tyler Anderson, Baker decided to give the National League Player of the Week and catcher Wieters a day off each. Baker added he is leaning toward platooning his catchers the next few days.

"Because Bryce played every day," Baker said on the reasoning for sitting the Nationals' hottest hitter. "Wieters is in a grueling position. He will play tomorrow and he might be off the next day, and then I'll alternate him and Loby. And then when we get back home he will catch that first game again, hopefully. Depends on when we get back home."

With Harper sitting, Baker has a big card to play if he wants to pinch-hit him late in the game.

"Yeah, just got to wait for the right time, make sure they can't walk him or pitch around him," Baker said. "Try not to double switch him in there. That negates a day off. He wanted to play but I thought it was best that he didn't."

Baker has been asked several times about how tired his Nationals team might be after arriving in the Mile High City at 5 a.m. local time Monday on the final leg of their 10-game road trip.

"Tired is like a state of mind," Baker said. "I remember talking to Don Baylor years ago, we were in the minor leagues. We were complaining we were tired and he said 'Hey man, it's a state of mind.' You got to push through it. Ever since we had that discussion when we were kids, that's how I've always had that thought. You just play because there's nothing you can do about it."

The club arrives riding a seven-game win streak, highlighted by back-to-back sweeps against division rivals the Braves and the Mets.

Baker said Max Scherzer going eight innings was big in helping the bullpen come into Denver fresh for what is usually an extremely difficult place for opposing pitchers to be successful.

"Not only Max going eight innings, the other guys going 6 2/3 or seven," Baker said. "This is what you don't want to happen, is to come in here with a tired bullpen and limping."

Baker said he also hopes his bullpen isn't roughed up when they finish this series, because they play the Mets at home Friday without a day off.

"You always plan before and after Colorado. You see that on the schedule. It's been that way for years. Fortunately for me, I was with them in this division for a long, long time. Quite a few nights I didn't sleep after the game. They got a real good team. Their record indicates they got a real good team. They've got a good young bullpen, some good young arms. So it's going to be a challenge."

Jacob Turner, 25, gets the call for the Nationals. Baker selected Turner based on his experience in big league games and starts he has had over the years for the Marlins.

"We want him to pitch a quality (start) and have our bullpen the way it was the last few days, and also at the same time for him to pitch well enough, maybe, to have us think more than today," Baker said.

"He's not going to be overwhelmed by pitching in Colorado. (Jose Lobaton is) going to direct him through the game."

Baker was asked about Sammy Solís (left elbow inflammation) and did not have any on-field updates as of today.

"I see Sammy smiling," Baker said. "I called him my enforcer in New York when it was cold. I told him to get them out of the clubhouse because if I have to be out here, you got to be out here."

Baker said he has seen more from Stephen Drew (right hamstring strain).

"He's making pretty good progress," Baker said. "I'm waiting to hear some news from my trainers."