Abrams, Thomas both out of lineup; Gore likely to start Friday

CJ Abrams has missed only 12 games this season. Lane Thomas has missed only five. Tonight, the Nationals will be without both stalwarts for the first time in 2023.

Davey Martinez’s lineup card for the series opener against the Mets doesn’t look like any previous one he has submitted this season. Rookie Jacob Young is leading off, with Joey Meneses batting second, Keibert Ruiz slotted third and Riley Adams hitting cleanup for the first time in his career.

Such is the byproduct of a lineup missing the team’s usual No. 1 and No. 2 hitter.

Abrams’ day off was scheduled, according to Martinez, who noted how the 22-year-old shortstop has looked worn down in the last week as a tough schedule and the reality of September baseball converged.

“The way he plays the game, he’s constantly using his legs,” Martinez said. “He plays a premium position. He’s constantly running, on his feet, stealing bases. He’s been doing a lot of things, diving everywhere. I just felt like over the last few days – and the fact it’s going to be so hot – having a day off yesterday and a day off today could reset him a little bit.”

Thomas did get a rare day off Thursday to begin this homestand after complaining of back tightness during the Nats’ series in Toronto. He responded well to the quick break, returning to hit a home run Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the Marlins.

But even with the team’s day off Monday, Thomas was still feeling less than 100 percent, so the Nationals sent him to get an MRI, the results of which they were still awaiting late this afternoon.

"His back is sore again, so I’m going to give him today off. I might even give him tomorrow off, so he has three days (of rest),” Martinez said. “I asked him how he feels, told him to just take it easy. And if he’s available to pinch-hit later, then we’ll use him to pinch-hit.”

Thomas’ weekend power surge snapped a lengthy drought for the 28-year-old, who went 21 consecutive games without homering. He opened the season homerless in 25 games, then went on a tear with 20 over his next 86 games.

As the Nationals reach the final four weeks of the season, Thomas has already secured the best numbers of his career: 32 doubles, 23 homers, 74 RBIs, 17 steals and a .285/.334/.484 slash line. He would like to keep building on those totals, though, before heading home for the winter.

“I hope this is not something that’s going to linger for the rest of the year for him, because he is having a tremendous year for us and for him,” Martinez said. “I want him to finish up strong, but I don’t want him to end up on the IL, either. So we’ll see how this plays out.”

* MacKenzie Gore returned from bereavement leave today and is now preparing to make his next start.

The left-hander, who last pitched one week ago in Toronto, left the club Thursday and missed the entire weekend series. His turn in the rotation would’ve come tonight, but Patrick Corbin instead is making this start on five days’ rest.

Martinez said Gore will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. If all goes well, he’ll start Friday night against the Dodgers. That would come 10 days after his last outing, essentially as if he had one turn in the rotation skipped.

The Nationals have been trying to find ways to limit Gore’s workload down the stretch, because he has already thrown a career-high 132 1/3 innings, surpassing his previous high (set in 2019 as a minor leaguer with the Padres) by 30 innings.