Taylor to stick in leadoff spot for Nationals

MIAMI — When the Nationals lost Ben Revere four innings into the 2016 regular season to a strained oblique, it left them without a clear leadoff hitter.

Michael Taylor has stepped in as the Nationals’ primary leadoff man in the meantime, although manager Dusty Baker admits Taylor does not perfectly fit the role. Taylor had two hits and a walk in his best game at the plate this season in Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Marlins, but he has scuffled through the early going of this season.

“He’s been struggling some to get on base,” Baker said. “But he’s the best that we have to put in that spot right now without having to tear the rest of my lineup up.”

Taylor began Tuesday batting .178/.208/.267, and his on-base percentage is the third worst in the National League among qualified hitters. But Taylor never profiled as a guy with a high on-base percentage. He owns a .276 on-base percentage in 166 games in his short Major League career.

Baker has encouraged Taylor to stay aggressive as a leadoff hitter and not feel pressured to take pitches he would normally swing at because of his spot in the lineup, but Taylor has been a bit overly aggressive so far and is swinging at 35.8 percent of pitches outside the strike zone.

Part of the reason Baker believes Taylor can stay aggressive is because of the man hitting behind him in the No. 2 spot in the lineup …

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