Garrett gets start, Robles slumping, Ruiz finding stroke

Stone Garrett finds himself back in the Nationals lineup today, the 27-year-old slugger given an opportunity to start in left field after spending the last five games on the bench in the wake of back-to-back impressive performances in Colorado.

Garrett is starting in place of Alex Call, who had been in Davey Martinez’s lineup 11 consecutive games, the last eight as leadoff hitter.

Garrett went 6-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs during his back-to-back starts last weekend against the Rockies. Martinez said he hadn’t been back in the lineup since due to matchups, pointing out the Nationals hadn’t faced many left-handers since. Shane Bieber, who starts today for the Guardians, is a right-hander, but Martinez still views this as an advantageous matchup for Garrett.

“This guy throws a lot of off-speed stuff, keeps the ball out over the plate. So I thought it would be a good matchup,” the manager said. “Alex has been playing every day, so give him a day (off). Let’s get him out there. Like I said before, I’ve been wanting to get him out there. I think today is a good day.”

Call had taken over the everyday job in left field after Corey Dickerson suffered a calf strain in the season’s second game. He leads the team with nine walks and sported a .415 on-base percentage six days ago. But he’s just 1 for his last 17 with one walk, and has seen his batting average drop to .208, with his on-base percentage down to .322.

“I think he’s getting a little bit pull-happy,” Martinez said. “He’s got to stay on the ball. They’re starting to pitch him a little bit away. He’s aggressive; he’s taken some good hacks. … He does hit the ball hard. But I thought after yesterday, he just needs a day.”

* Victor Robles remains in the lineup despite an 0-for-13 slump that has put a damper on his electric start to the season.

Robles was batting .412 six days ago, but this slump has lowered his batting average to .298. After drawing five walks in his first eight games, he hasn’t drawn any his last seven, lowering his on-base percentage from .483 to .377.

“He’s just getting a little bit pull-happy,” Martinez said. “We’ve got to get him back. He’s rolling over a little bit. We’ve just got to get him back in the middle of the field.”

In the bigger picture, the Nationals remain encouraged by Robles’ approach at the plate, a continuation of what he displayed in Florida in March.

“He’s been awesome,” Martinez said. “He’s been that way since day one of spring training. Since we had that first conversation of spring training, he had a plan. He stuck with the plan, and he’s been really good with it. That’s why you’re seeing the success he’s had.”

* Keibert Ruiz starts his 14th game behind the plate today, most among all major league catchers. He has taken only two days off so far, and with two off-days for the Nationals this week sandwiched around their two-game series with the Orioles, there may not be reason for Martinez to give his young catcher a breather yet.

Ruiz had his best offensive game of the season Friday night, going 3-for-4 with a double, with all three hits exceeding 100 mph in exit velocity.

“He’s on time to hit the fastball,” Martinez said. “You saw that yesterday. He was very quiet, his legs slowed down quite a bit. When he does that, his hands work really well. We’ve got to keep him there. He’s swinging the bat really well right now.”