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Saunders 2013:
Injured April 10 - (missed 17 games) - .833 OPS when injured.
Returned April 29.
Next game skipped was May 27 -- (OPS down to .655 before off day) -- had one non-start on May 18, but appeared in game, no PA
Next game skipped was June 16 - (OPS at .608 at this point).
Next game skipped was June 25 - (OPS at .613).
Note: Played 7 straight days and then got a rest day - closest rest interval all season.
Gets TWO (2) days off - July 1-2. -- .616 before rest
Gets another day off on July 7 -- .615 before rest
Played 7 straight games - then the ASB - creating 4 consecutive days off. - OPS at .667 before break.
The turn-around can really be pegged at July 8th. But, in addition to the two days off to start July, with another rest day a week later, the ASB creates not only a natural break where muscles can fully recover - but also provides a natural mental break, allowing lots of players to "reset" and begin the season anew.
Since the ASB, he's only had two days missing games, July 26 and August 17.
His OPS peaked on August 4th ... and he's maintained it since then.
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As to why they don't mix in more rest days ... I think that's typical athletic macho BS and cultural tradition of all sports.
And, of course, this is precisely where the top managers get successful buy in for off days, even from star players. Poor managers either don't rest players effectively or often create tension in the clubhouse as a result of poor player management, (the worst managers to do both).
The math problem is -- if you have a starter running an OPS of .820 and a backup running an OPS of .680 ... on no specific individual day does the math make resting the starter obvious. It takes a little faith that the off days for the stars (and regular PT for the scrubs) are going to raise the individual production for BOTH players, (making the .820 guy an .840 guy - and raising the .680 scrub to .700.)
I think what happens too often is that managers wait for a slump to start - and give a player a rest day only AFTER their production has waned. That probably helps create a mental break, and is better than not reacting at all and simply running the slumping star out there regardless - but I believe the better approach is to pre-emptively give starters rest days - on a fairly regular schedule. I think this creates the mental break days ... but it also removes the perception of rest days being punitive. (I slumped in the last two week - and was "punished" with an off day).