MVP candidate Daniel Murphy will continue to sit out for the Washington Nationals through at least the weekend, manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday.
Murphy, diagnosed with a buttocks strain after having an MRI, hasn't played in the field or run the bases since suffering the injury Sept. 17 against Atlanta.
The Nationals have dropped five out of their last six games, and they have magic numbers of one for a playoff berth and two for an NL East title.
Baker told reporters that the team will monitor Murphy's injury throughout the weekend, and the All-Star second baseman will rest and then be re-evaluated. Stephen Drew will start at second base Saturday against the Pirates.
"We're going to shut him down," Baker told reporters. "He'll probably sneak in to hit somewhere. Especially if, like he said, it doesn't hurt. We're just trying to stop him from various activities."
Baker said there's no firm timetable as to when Murphy, who is hitting .347 with 25 home runs and 104 RBIs, will return.
"I'm not a doctor. I don't know. They're doing everything they can to try to alleviate the pain and get rid of whatever's in there. We have some very capable staff here. I'm glad he didn't do it any worse. That's why we didn't put him in a situation where he had to run. But now we're not going to put him in any situation, to make sure he doesn't have to run."