Millas replaces Adams on roster, Young sits with hand injury

CLEVELAND – The Nationals swapped out backup catchers this morning, optioning Riley Adams to Triple-A and recalling Drew Millas from Rochester, hoping the latter can provide a more potent bat in the big leagues while the former tries to rediscover his swing (while also getting playing time at another position) in the minors.

Adams got off to a hot start to the season and filled in admirably when starting catcher Keibert Ruiz dealt with a bad case of the flu, batting .293 with six extra-base hits and an .863 OPS through his first 12 games.

But he’s been in a prolonged slump since then, batting just .132 with one double and 16 strikeouts over his last 13 games. He hit a low point Saturday afternoon, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and letting a bounced pitch from Mitchell Parker get past him and roll all the way to the first base dugout as the Guardians’ José Ramírez scored all the way from second for what proved to be the decisive run in a 3-2 loss.

The Nationals hope more consistent playing time at Triple-A will give Adams a better chance of rediscovering his swing.

“It was a timing thing. He’s just got to get himself ready earlier,” manager Davey Martinez said. “It’s hard to do when you’re not playing every day. So getting him at-bats every day, and getting him locked in again, definitely will help him.”

Adams, who turns 28 later this month, also will get a chance to play first base, something he briefly attempted in the majors two years ago but hasn’t done since. The thought process there: With Joey Gallo and Joey Meneses both struggling to hit, another option is worth considering.

Adams won’t play in games at first base right away in Rochester, but the hope is that he gets comfortable quickly and can work his way into games soon.

“He actually fields ground balls really well,” Martinez said. “The thing is moving around the base, his footwork, picking balls. So they’re going to work with him down there on that.”

Millas rejoins the Nationals for the third time this season, the fourth time overall since last September. This stint should provide more of a playing opportunity for the 26-year-old, who was batting .308 with an .858 OPS at Triple-A in addition to his usual strong work behind the plate.

Martinez said he hopes to give Millas two or three starts per week, whether filling in for Ruiz at catcher or even serving as designated hitter at times.

“That would mean the world,” Millas said. “I’m just going to try not to squander any opportunity at any time. And when my name’s called, try to get the job done.”

* Jacob Young is out of the lineup, his right hand still sore and a bit swollen after he was forced to leave Saturday’s game in the seventh inning.

X-rays taken on the hand did come back negative, so there doesn’t appear to be any fear of serious injury.

Though he didn’t realize it at the time, Young likely was hurt on the high-and-tight, third-inning pitch that caused a storm Saturday and led to Martinez’s ejection. Young believed the pitch hit his bat and should have been ruled a foul ball. Plate umpire Malachi Moore said it hit the hand, and ruled Young had swung and thus was out on the strike three call. Martinez stormed out of the dugout to argue and was ejected.

“I went back and looked and really got a good close-up of the ball hitting his hand,” Martinez said. “When I talked to him yesterday, he said the ball never hit him, it hit the bat. The ball hit his hand and his bat. I think that could’ve caused the inflammation.”