Some young Nats get day off for finale in Philly

PHILADELPHIA – As the Nationals go for their third straight series win this afternoon, some of their young players are getting the day off.

CJ Abrams, Luis García and Keibert Ruiz are all out of the starting lineup for the rubber match against the Phillies. It’s not much of a surprise for the catcher after being behind the dish for the first two games this weekend, but having not one but both of the young middle infielders rest on the same day is a bit of a surprise.

Ildemaro Vargas, in the starting lineup for the second straight day, gets the start at shortstop while Michael Chavis is at second base. Riley Adams, of course, is catching starter Trevor Williams.

“Just to get them off their feet,” manager Davey Martinez said of his reasoning in giving Abrams and García the same day off. “Day game, get them off. We got a crazy schedule coming up with this next week. We got different times: six o'clock, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, so I just want to give those guys a day. Like I said, these guys, they got to get a day here and there. So today was a good day. It was scheduled coming into the series. So they'll get the day today and get some of these other guys in there.”

The Nationals have six different scheduled start times over their final seven games this week leading into the All-Star break: They’ll open their four-game series with the Reds tomorrow night at 6 p.m., then they have the traditional 11 a.m. start on the Fourth of July, a 7 p.m. start on Wednesday, a 1 p.m. start for Thursday’s getaway game for Cincinnati, another 7 p.m. game Friday for the series opener against the Rangers, a 4 p.m. start Saturday and a noon start Sunday for a nationally televised first-half finale on Peacock.

Returning to the lineup, however, is Joey Meneses, who sat for the fourth time in two weeks during yesterday’s loss. The Nationals are hoping he stays in his legs and uses his hands more in his swing. As he faces Phillies left-handed starter Ranger Suárez, they’re just looking for contact from their designated hitter.

“Just good, solid contact,” Martinez said. “I know he's been in a little bit of a funk, but he's a big part of our lineup. He drives in some runs for us. I talked to him yesterday, I said, 'Hey, I don't want you thinking about (too much), if you're thinking about hitting home runs. Just go back to just hitting the ball hard and try to find some holes out there. Square some balls up and just be you. We had a good conversation, so hopefully he goes out there today and slows everything down and hits the ball hard.”

* The Nats’ probable pitching matchups for this week against the Reds:

Monday - RHP Jake Irvin vs. RHP Luke Weaver
Tuesday - LHP Patrick Corbin vs. TBA
Wednesday - RHP Josiah Gray vs. RHP Graham Ashcraft
Thursday - LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. LHP Brandon Williamson

So Corbin will be back from the bereavement list for the July 4 start, which means someone will have to be taken off the active roster.

* Martinez didn’t have an update on MacKenzie Gore’s blister before the game. He’s going to talk to the young lefty leading up to the start of this afternoon’s finale and perhaps have an update later.