WASHINGTON -- Daniel Murphy and the Washington Nationals are trying to play it safe so a little hamstring soreness doesn't turn into a bigger problem.
Murphy was scratched for the second straight game Saturday. He was a late scratch in the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night; he sat out because of tightness in his left hamstring. Murphy, who leads the majors with a .348 average, said he felt his hamstring tighten while sliding into second during the ninth inning of the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Manager Dusty Baker said the decision was precautionary. The team listed Murphy as day-to-day, though Baker said Murphy might be available to pinch hit Saturday.
"The leg is hurt, but it's not too bad," Baker said. "We want to stop it before it gets to something worse."
With the Nationals atop the National League East, it was a no-brainer for Murphy, Baker and the training staff to rest the slugging infielder. Clint Robinson, who started at first base in Murphy's place, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
"After speaking with the training staff, we thought it was the best idea to give it a day and then we'll come in tomorrow and see how it feels," Murphy said. "It's a very advantageous situation for us to be in as we saw the way Clint swung the bat today. It's a deep group of position players."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
