Ruiz, Adams both in lineup again; spring training schedule unveiled

It’s not exactly become a regular occurrence, but it’s no longer a once-in-a-blue-moon event. For the fourth time in the last month, the Nationals have both Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams in the lineup together.

Ruiz once again will serve as designated hitter for tonight’s game against the Rockies, with Adams catching as Davey Martinez tries to find ways to keep two hot bats in the lineup at the same time.

Martinez’s motivation is pretty simple. Adams has been one of baseball’s most productive backup catchers, entering tonight’s game batting .289/.344/.542 with five doubles, two triples, four homers and 11 RBIs in only 91 plate appearances. Ruiz, meanwhile, has been hot himself over the last month, batting .323/.371/.523 with four doubles, three homers and 11 RBIs over his last 17 games.

“I just try to pick days where I can do it,” Martinez said. “After this weekend, looking at everything, it just made sense for them both to get a chance to get more at-bats. I want to keep Riley going; he’s swinging the bat well. And also, Keibert’s swinging the bat really good right-handed.”

Martinez first started both of his catchers June 22 against the Diamondbacks and watched them go a combined 6-for-8 with a double and a homer. All told in the three games they’ve both started, they’ve gone a combined 11-for-25.

Despite his strong numbers, Adams has played in only 24 games so far this season and has yet to reach 100 plate appearances even though he’s been on the active roster since Opening Day. He’s certainly earned more playing time, but it’s a delicate balance for a manager who has to know if Adams would get exposed if he played more.

“He’s swinging the bat really good. Even against right-handed pitching, he’s hit the ball well,” Martinez said. “The thing is, we all know Keibert is going to get the bulk of the playing time. But I definitely want to get (Adams), at least twice a week if I can, in there to play.”

The domino effect of Ruiz serving as DH tonight: Joey Meneses shifts to first base, with Dominic Smith on the bench against an opposing lefty.

* Lane Thomas is back in the lineup after departing Monday’s loss in the eighth inning after getting hit by a pitch on his left knee. The starting right fielder was in some pain after that incident, and with the Nationals trailing by a healthy margin at the time, Martinez decided not to take any chances and pulled Thomas in favor of Ildemaro Vargas.

If there was concern Monday night Thomas might need to miss any more time, he put those fears to rest when he reported to Nationals Park this afternoon.

“He’s good,” Martinez said. “He got treatment last night, came in today and said it feels fine. Which is good.”

* Hunter Harvey played catch from 75 feet Monday afternoon, the first time he’s thrown since landing on the 15-day IL nine days ago with an elbow strain. Harvey, whose career has been littered with injuries, insists this one isn’t anywhere near as serious as other’s he’s dealt with before. But given his history, the Nationals aren’t likely to rush him back, no matter how well he says he feels.

“Just going back to his history, we’ve got to be very careful with him,” Martinez said.  “He wants to go. He’s already saying he doesn’t need to go down (to Florida) and rehab a little bit. I said: ‘When we get to that point, I’ll let you know what we’re going to do.’ But I like the fact he feels that good.”

* Major League Baseball announced its 2024 spring training schedule today, some seven months before any game will be played in Florida or Arizona.

The Nationals open their eighth season at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches with a Feb. 24 home game against the Astros, the first of seven games with their co-residents. In addition to the usual games against the three other teams that train on Florida’s East Coast (Marlins, Cardinals, Mets), they also have home-and-home matchups with the two teams that train across the state in Fort Myers. The Nats host the Red Sox on Feb. 28 and face them on the road March 2. They play at the Twins on March 10 and then host them March 21.

The 30-game Grapefruit League slate ends March 24 against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, four days before the Nationals open the season in Cincinnati.