But Harper is back the Nationals’ lineup Friday night against the Marlins (78-80) after missing four games. The right fielder will bat third. He was heating up before the injury, going 6 for 16 in his previous 18 plate appearances.

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“He might have been ready to go [Thursday],” Baker said. “So if a guy tells me he’s ready, if I have a luxury, I like to give them one more day off. I just noticed that a lot of guys say they’re ready and you bring them back and they’re really not ready. I would prefer that you be champing at the bit to get back [instead] of a person to just say that you’re ready.”

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The Nationals (93-66) enter the game with their magic number to clinch home-field advantage in the NLDS against the Dodgers at two. They would clinch it Friday with a win and a Dodgers loss to the Giants. Friday will be the Marlins’ first road game since Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident early last Sunday morning. Fernandez’s funeral was held in Miami on Thursday. The team flew to Washington after attending.

A.J. Cole is also in the lineup as Washington’s starting pitcher, meaning Major League Baseball hasn’t ruled on his appeal of a five-game suspension he was given for throwing behind Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang’s head. He’ll oppose right-hander Andrew Cashner.

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Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman also aren’t in the Nationals’ lineup and isn’t expected to return from a strained buttocks injury during the regular season, but the Nationals maintain that he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the NLDS next week. Murphy hasn’t started the past 11 games. Baker said Thursday he could be available to pinch-hit this weekend.

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Baker said Zimmerman, who exited Thursday’s win early, isn’t hurt. But Clint Robinson, a left-handed hitter, is in the lineup against the right-hander Cashner. Baker said that isn’t an indiciation of a plan to platoon Robinson and Zimmerman, who has a lower OPS but a higher batting average against right-handed pitchers, in the playoffs.

“That hasn’t crossed my mind,” Baker said. “I’m just trying to get Clint some ABs. I’m trying to get all these guys a few ABs, win the game, secure the homefield advantage and get them ready for what they’re going to be doing. I don’t know. I don’t really believe in platoon, platoon. There’s certain guys that I feel that Clint may have a better chance of being successful against. But that’s not a platoon for me. And also, I got to make sure Zim gets there healthy.”

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Outfielder Chris Heisey hasn’t been with the team after his wife recently gave birth to the couple’s second child. He is expected to return Saturday. Heisey is the second Nationals player to leave the team for the birth of a child in September; Danny Espinosa’s wife gave birth earlier this month and he missed one game.

“This team is a baby-making team,” Baker said.

NATIONALS

CF Trea Turner

LF Jayson Werth

RF Bryce Harper

3B Anthony Rendon

2B Stephen Drew

1B Clint Robinson

SS Danny Espinosa

C Jose Lobaton

RHP A.J. Cole

MARLINS

2B Dee Gordon

LF Derek Dietrich

3B Martin Prado

CF Christian Yelich

RF Marcell Ozuna

1B Justin Bour

C J.T. Realmuto

SS Adeiny Hechavarria