Dusty Baker says he has not yet considered a change at shortstop

LOS ANGELES — Another game, another round of questions for Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker about shortstop Danny Espinosa.

Espinosa remained in the Nationals’ lineup Monday despite an 0-for-5 start with five strikeouts in the National League Division Series. He was twice hit by pitches Sunday in Game 2 to reach base.

Espinosa is a conundrum. He is by far the Nationals’ best defensive option at shortstop, helping the Nationals counter below average defense at second base from Daniel Murphy. A consideration in Game 3 would have been to replace Espinosa with left-handed Stephen Drew. Espinosa is a switch-hitter who hit .212 from the left side this season. Drew had a .910 OPS against right-handed pitching this season. In Game 3, the Nationals finally faced a right-handed starter for the first time in the series, when rookie Kenta Maeda pitched. Ninety-six of Drew’s 122 career home runs have come against right-handed pitchers.

Baker said before the game that he had not considered a change at shortstop yet. He also explained the challenge of handling Espinosa’s struggles.

“I’ve talked to him,” Baker said. “I’ve talked to him throughout the year. I talk to all my guys, especially guys who are struggling some. Can’t tell you what I talked to them about. Most of us have been through that. It’s really too early to just start making changes, especially if you stuck with this all year long. The guy did have [24] home runs and almost 80 ribbies. If Bryce Harper was struggling, you’d have a fit if I took him out. I’m not that kind of manager. Might be a time that’s possible, but it’s not possible yet.

“He’s hard to figure because he’ll strike out in a succession, then hit two home runs. How do you know he’s about to hit two home runs and how do you know when he’s about to strike out? If you knew, I wish you would tell me.”

Espinosa was 0-for-2 with a strikeout and pop out Monday before being replaced by Drew as part of a double-switch in the sixth inning.