Lineup gets makeover vs. Snell; Gallo homers in rehab debut

If the longtime baseball axiom is true and momentum really is only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher, the Nationals recognize their explosive offensive showing Tuesday night means nothing heading into tonight’s game against Giants ace Blake Snell.

Hence, Davey Martinez’s lineup for this one bears little resemblance to the one that busted out for 11 runs only 24 hours ago.

Luis García Jr. isn’t starting against the left-handed Snell. Neither is Keibert Ruiz or Travis Blankenhorn. Alex Call is suddenly batting second, with Ildemaro Vargas fifth. James Wood, on the heels of a historic performance, was dropped to the sixth spot, behind Vargas.

“I wanted to get righties up there in the lineup,” Martinez said. “Give those guys a chance. I always say try to get the starter. It gives us a chance to try to beat him today.”

This isn’t necessarily anything new for Martinez, who regularly sits García against lefties because of the 218-point difference in his OPS. Vargas, meanwhile, bats .305 with a .767 OPS against left-handers, better than Wood’s .239 and .683 marks.

And then there’s Call, who has hit down in the lineup since getting called up from Triple-A Rochester to replace the traded Jesse Winker and Lane Thomas but has put up big numbers in eight games since: a .455 batting average with four doubles, a homer, six RBIs, six walks and a 1.344 OPS.

The benching of Ruiz after eight consecutive starts behind the plate isn’t a surprise, though Martinez noted his No. 1 catcher had a slight headache Tuesday night after taking two foul balls off his facemask. The manager expects Ruiz back in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale.

“I talked to him today already. He said he feels fine,” Martinez said. “I just wanted to make sure I gave him a day. He got hit solid twice yesterday.”

This ends up being a rare start for Adams, only his third in the Nationals’ last 16 games. It’s been a challenge for the 28-year-old to find rhythm at the plate given the lack of playing time, but the team purposely sets the bar low recognizing the circumstances.

“I’m not asking him to try to hit home runs. Just work good at-bats,” Martinez said. “What I am asking him to do is control our (pitching) staff. He’s been pretty good. I know he hasn’t played as much lately, but the other day he came into the game and got two hits in Arizona for us. He’s going to work good at-bats, and that’s all we can ask.”

* Joey Gallo finally made his rehab debut today for Rochester and made up for all the lost time with a big afternoon at the plate.

Gallo, rehabbing from a hamstring strain, went 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks while playing seven innings at first base. That homer, by the way, came against Buffalo right-hander (and former Nationals swingman) Paolo Espino.

Gallo was supposed to debut Tuesday, but the game was rained out, forcing a doubleheader today. He didn’t play in the nightcap and is now scheduled to DH on Thursday and then start in right field Friday.