Ruiz starts sixth straight behind plate; Adon gets chance to set up

When he had to come out of Wednesday’s series finale in Arizona after getting struck by a foul ball in the groin, Keibert Ruiz figured to be uncertain for Friday’s series opener in Washington. In the end, Ruiz didn’t just start that game against the Brewers. He’s started all three games this weekend.

Feeling strong physically, and performing better at the plate recently, Ruiz is back in the lineup this afternoon. The second time he’s caught a day game after a night game in the last week.

“He’s doing well. He’s playing well,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I just want to continue to get him out there. We’re trying to get him going; he’s been swinging the bat a lot better, so I’m trying to keep him and get him locked in.”

Ruiz’s last day off came Sunday in St. Louis, though even then he wound up as a late-game replacement for Riley Adams. He then started all three games in Arizona, though he departed the last two early (once because the game was a blowout, the other time because of the unfortunately located foul ball).

Because he had to be hospitalized two years ago when a similar incident occurred, the Nationals were initially worried about Ruiz’s status. But he insisted this one wasn’t nearly that bad, so he was back to work Friday night when the team returned home. He’s recorded a hit in each of this series’ first two games, including an RBI single during the Nats’ four-run first-inning rally Saturday evening.

Overall, Ruiz still has meager offensive numbers this season: a .217/.248/.332 slash line. But he’s been more productive since mid-May, when his batting average bottomed out at .141, his OPS at .392. In 59 games since, he’s got a more respectable .251/.276/.389 slash line, with 10 doubles, six homers and 31 RBIs.

“I try to think about all the positives, as you all know,” Martinez said. “I don’t dwell on the negatives. We value him very much. We look at his progression as a young catcher. Some days, he’s going to fluctuate. … He knows he can do better.”

* It’s no secret the Nationals are scrambling right now to find late-inning relievers they can trust after trading both Hunter Harvey and Dylan Floro in the last three weeks. With no obvious replacement for the setup role, Martinez has tried out several different pitchers to get the ball to closer Kyle Finnegan.

On Saturday, that meant the first such opportunity for Joan Adon. The former failed starter-turned-long reliever was given the ball for the top of the eighth with the Nats leading 6-2, the closest thing he’s come yet to a high-leverage situation.

Adon proceeded to give up back-to-back, ground ball singles to Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, putting himself in a jam. He bounced back, though, and got William Contreras to ground out before then striking out cleanup hitter Willy Adames to cap off a seven-pitch at-bat.

Martinez summoned Finnegan after that for a four-out save, and the All-Star closer did allow both inherited runners to score. But overall, Martinez was impressed with the job Adon did, especially during the strikeout of Adames, which came on a 97 mph fastball.

“I’m trying to get the most out of him in the bullpen,” Martinez said. “Trying to get him to understand. Yesterday we put him in the game, because we wanted to see. I had a conversation with him about how to attack hitters, and not coming into a game like a starter, where he was throwing 92-93. Hey, you’ve got to get after it from the first pitch. After having a conversation with him, I felt like let’s see what he does here, because it’s a big moment. And he came out thrown 96-97, which I love.”

Adon has never pitched back-to-back days, so he won’t be available this afternoon. But Martinez could look for more opportunities to use him in such situations in the future if he handles it well.