Nationals' Daniel Murphy: Held out again as a precaution

Murphy (hamstring) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Pirates, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Analysis:

Murphy will effectively sit out the entire three-game series against Pittsburgh due to some hamstring soreness that surfaced following the All-Star Game. With a scheduled team day off Monday it will effectively be six consecutive days of rest for Murphy, provided he isn't used as a pinch hitter Sunday. Fantasy owners need not stress too much about the second baseman, however, as Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports that Murphy was both jogging and taking BP on the field Saturday, implying a return is right around the corner.