Abrams bumped to seventh, García sits against lefty again

While Dylan Crews and James Wood have commanded the spotlight this week, and rightfully so, the Nationals are focusing on ensuring two of their other young stars have strong finishes to the season. And in different ways.

Davey Martinez’s lineup for tonight’s opener against the Cubs features one major change and a noticeable absence: CJ Abrams was bumped all the way down to the seventh spot in the order and Luis García Jr. on the bench with left-hander Shota Imanaga starting for Chicago.

For the first time this season, Abrams is not batting in one of the top two spots in the lineup. In fact, it’s the first time the young shortstop has started a game this low in the order since July 6, 2023, when he hit eighth against the Reds. The following day, he was moved up to the leadoff spot, where he performed well for a strong second half of last season and hit for much of this year.

“Just want to give him a little breather. I want him to relax a little bit,” Martinez said during his pregame media session. “Just start working better at-bats. As you know, he's been chasing a lot. I just want him to kind of slow down a little bit. So I talked to him before I sent the lineup out. He's good with it. Like I said, when you start getting on base and taking your walks, I want you to get back up there. But we need to slow you down a little bit. He's just swinging a lot.”

Up until July 7, the one-year anniversary of his promotion to the leadoff spot, Abrams was slashing .282/.353/.506 with an .860 OPS, 21 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, 29 walks and 14 stolen bases. The Nats are trying to get him back to doing what he did to earn his first All-Star selection.

“He's got to go back to using the middle of the field and swinging at strikes,” the manager said. “I know he likes swinging at the first pitch, as we always see. I told him, I said, "I'm not going to tell you not to, especially if you get a fastball, but it's got to be in the zone. And that's where we need to be.’ But like I said, he worked his way to be a leadoff hitter. He's going to do it again. I just want to just ease his mind a little bit and just go out there and have fun and get some decent pitches to hit. If not, walk.”

Since then, however, Abrams’ season has been going in a downward spiral. Over those 41 games, he’s slashing .169/.239/.288 with a .526 OPS, five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 16 RBIs, eight walks, 42 strikeouts and 13 stolen bases.

“He's been struggling pretty much since the All-Star break and we're trying to get him going,” Martinez said. “I think the biggest thing we need to do with him is understand he needs to slow his feet down. He's really going to get the baseball. We need him to get back, get ready early and slow his feet down a little bit.”

On the other hand, García has been one of the Nats’ best and most consistent hitters. The second baseman is in the midst of a career year, slashing .290/.326/.453 with a .779 OPS, 22 doubles, one triple, 15 homers, 63 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and 23 walks.

But Martinez has been putting García on the bench and starting journeyman Ildemaro Vargas instead against tough left-handed starting pitchers. Against Chris Sale last week in Atlanta made sense. Sitting on Monday also made sense because Nestor Cortes has a funky delivery. He did start Wednesday against Carlos Rodón, but went 0-for-3 with a strikeout against the other Yankees southpaw.

“Look, when he's in the game when the (left-handed) pitcher comes, I won't pinch-hit for him. I let him hit,” Martinez said. “It's a chance, one, to get Vargas in there. Vargas is swinging the bat really well against left-handed pitching. Also, two, is not to get him frustrated because he's doing so well against right-handed pitchers as well. We let him play the other day. We thought he'd get some fastballs, and he missed some fastballs that he should have hit. Today this guy's got a big sweeper, a splitter, so I opted to give him a day off and have him come off the bench today.”

The splits for the two infielders are significant. García is slashing .247/.284/.326 with a .610 OPS against left-handers while Vargas is slashing .293/.330/.384 with a .714 OPS.

But the 24-year-old García has a larger role to play in the Nationals’ future than the 33-year-old Vargas. García will get his at-bats against lefties, but the Nats want to make sure he keeps the confidence he’s worked so hard to build up. The last thing they want to see is him struggle against a lefty and finish the year frustrated.

“Look, he's having a tremendous year,” Martinez said. “I want him to finish the year with really good numbers. He's worked really hard. He's been playing really well. He's been playing really well at second base. So like I said, the other thing is, I’m trying to get everybody in there. So Vargas has been doing well against lefties.”