Baker's opening day lineup a reflection of opponent

After the Nationals acquired Adam Eaton in December, much of the talk was where the center fielder would bat in a stacked lineup.

The Nationals already have shortstop Trea Turner, who is a prototypical leadoff hitter - able to get on base and create havoc by stealing bases or using his speed to go first to third.

Turner is a right-handed hitter, Eaton bats from left. So hitting them one-two makes sense. It would seem that Eaton would hit first, then Turner to be followed by lefty-hitting Daniel Murphy.

But most of the spring, and especially the last couple of weeks, Eaton has been hitting sixth or seventh in the order.

And in today's opening day lineup card: Turner, Eaton, Bryce Harper and Murphy are the top four hitters.
Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Stephen Drew go 5-6-7.

Newly acquired catcher Matt Wieters, who is a switch-hitter, is followed by the starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg.

Today's lineup looks like this for a couple of reasons: The Marlins have no left-handed hitting relievers and, more importantly, manager Dusty Baker wanted to give third baseman Anthony Rendon (calf) a day off. Baker said that Rendon was available to play, might even pinch-hit, but he preferred to give him another day off before Wednesday's second game of the series.

"I had to settle on this one because no Anthony, number one," Baker said. "Murphy hadn't had that many at-bats. Originally I had him in front of Bryce. But now I have him in front of Zim because Zim has been swinging a pretty good bat. Eaton at the top of the lineup because they don't have a left-hander out of the bullpen unless they go with (Adam) Conley. So from time to time depending on who's pitching against us, (Edinson) Volquez is tougher on righties. He gives up more homers to lefties. I had Volky. You weigh all these things, especially no lefties in the bullpen. Unless they go Conley, and Conley probably has more trouble against lefties than he does righties."

Seeing this lineup may be what Baker decides to do against the Marlins with the unusual bullpen situation. The Phillies do have lefty relievers, so come the weekend, he may alter the top of the Nats order. But one thing is for sure: Baker doesn't want this question to be asked at every pregame press conference:

"Am I going to have to answer this every day? Please no," he said.