Adams sent down, Law throws off mound, García sits again

Dylan Crews’ arrival had to come at someone’s expense. And though they don’t play the same position, technically his roster spot with the Nationals was previously occupied by Riley Adams, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

Adams had to be worried the clock was ticking when the Nats called up Drew Millas on Saturday, giving the team three catchers for the first time in a long time. Sure enough, Millas started Sunday’s game, recorded two hits in the Nats’ 5-1 victory and remains with the big league club while Adams heads back to Rochester for the second time this season.

It’s been a rocky 2024 for Adams, who entered with high hopes of providing a quality bat behind starter Keibert Ruiz and also improving his defensive work behind the plate. But though the 28-year-old got off to a good start and performed well when Ruiz had to go on the injured list in April with a back case of the flu, he never found a way to maintain that kind of production.

In 41 total major league games this season, Adams is batting .224 with a .292 on-base percentage, five doubles, two homers, eight RBIs and a .629 OPS. He has thrown out only 3-of-34 basestealers.

The Nationals sent Adams down once before, in early June when he was struggling, and he proceeded to deliver a .946 OPS in 22 games with Rochester. That earned him a trip back to D.C. in early July, but Adams’ Triple-A offensive success didn’t carry over to the majors.

Now he’ll try to earn his way back again, whether later this year or next.

“He’s changed a little bit of how he’s hitting; he’s got his hands back a little further,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I want to get him to feel comfortable doing that. As far as catching, keep working on his footwork, his throwing. He has gotten a little better, but we want him to keep working.

“He’s not forgotten, by any means. We want to see Millas play a little bit, so right now we thought we’d have Millas come up here and play a little more and send Riley down there so he can get some at-bats.”

* Derek Law took an important step in his return from what he believes is a minor elbow injury when he threw off the bullpen mound this afternoon.

Law, who went on the 15-day IL on Aug. 17 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, was cleared to resume throwing only days later and today got back on the mound for the first time. The reliever said he hopes to do the same thing Wednesday, then perhaps face live hitters on the field this weekend. If all goes well, he could return to the active roster next week when the Nationals open a road trip in Miami.

“I’ll see how he did today. And if he felt good, we’ll keep him going,” Martinez said. “And hopefully he’s back here sooner than later.”

Law has been not only the Nationals’ bullpen workhorse this season, but one of the majors’ biggest bullpen workhorses. Even with the 10 days he’s now missed, he still ranks third in the National League with 61 relief appearances and easily tops the NL with 75 2/3 relief innings pitched.

* The Nationals lineup tonight features a ton of young players. Eight of their nine starting position players, as a matter of fact, are 26 or younger. So is starting pitcher Mitchell Parker, who is 24.

The lone exception: Ildemaro Vargas, who at 33 must feel ancient compared to his teammates.

Vargas is getting the start at second base over Luis García Jr., who once again isn’t playing against a left-hander. Martinez had seemingly been giving the 24-year-old opportunities to face southpaws in recent weeks, but he sat him Friday night against the Braves’ Chris Sale and he’s sitting him again tonight against the Yankees’ Nestor Cortes.

“You saw he’s played against lefties,” the manager said. “It’s just today, Nestor’s a little funky. He’s been playing a lot. I want to keep him going. He’ll play tomorrow against another tough guy (right-hander Gerrit Cole). I don’t want to forget about the rest of the guys we have here.”

García has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the plate and enters the day batting .293 with 22 doubles, 15 homers, 63 RBIs and a .785 OPS. In 349 plate appearances against right-handers, his OPS is .823. In 91 plate appearances against lefties, it’s .638.