Adams adapting to less playing time, Strange-Gordon drives home

PITTSBURGH – Riley Adams has been a No. 1 catcher most of his life. He played all the time at the University of San Diego. He topped 400 plate appearances in the Blue Jays farm system in both 2018 and 2019.

That’s not going to be the case with the Nationals. Not unless something happens to Keibert Ruiz, the unquestioned No. 1 catcher here now.

So Adams has to start learning how to keep himself productive at the plate when he’s only catching once or twice per week.

“It’s a little different,” the 25-year-old said. “But it just means you’ve got to spend a little more time before the games behind the scenes making sure you’re as prepared as you can be.”

Adams is behind the plate for today’s series finale against the Pirates. It’s only his third start in 11 team games to date. And with very little opportunity to pinch-hit now that the designated hitter has come to the National League, there’s little reason to worry about coming off the bench in-game these days.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Adams has started off slow, going 0-for-6 with four strikeouts.

“He understands his situation right now, with Ruiz getting most of the time,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We’re going to try to get him in there, but he’s just got to keep himself ready. He catches bullpens. He hits quite a bit. We brought him out here the other day early to get some extra swings. It’s life as a backup catcher right now. Even though he’s young, he’s got to understand his role until we feel like either something happens or he starts playing more.”

Above all else, the Nats want Adams focused on his work behind the plate. That went exceptionally well his last start, when he caught a three-hitter pitched by Josiah Gray and four relievers during a 3-1 win over the Braves.

Adams was probably going to start today’s series finale at PNC Park regardless, because it’s a day game after a night game and the Pirates have left-hander José Quintana on the mound. But Martinez also was interested to see him work with Patrick Corbin for only the second time. (The two paired up well last August when Corbin held the Brewers to one run over 6 1/3 innings.)

“For me, it’s kind of something different for Patrick,” Martinez said. “Whether it’s the game-calling – even though Patrick calls his games the way he sees fit, and the way the lineup’s built – for me, Riley being a bigger target back there, it could help him. We’ll see.”

* Dee Strange-Gordon was cleared to drive home to Washington after being confined to his hotel room for several days while dealing with an illness.

Strange-Gordon was placed on the injured list with an undisclosed illness prior to Thursday’s series opener and never appeared at PNC Park. The Nationals have not typically revealed when a player has tested positive for COVID-19, but the fact Strange-Gordon was taken off the 40-man roster suggests he’s on the COVID-19 IL.

No other members of the team have been unable to be at the ballpark this weekend, but three teammates have been wearing masks inside the clubhouse, which is the protocol for vaccinated personnel who were deemed close contacts to someone who tested positive.