Why power-starved Nats aren't turning to Garrett more

The Nationals entered the day ranked last in the majors in home runs, last in the National League in slugging percentage. None of their regulars owns an OPS higher than .780, and that belongs to No. 9 batter Victor Robles.

There is, however, one player currently on their bench with better numbers, albeit in an extremely limited sample. Stone Garrett has played in three games to date, during which time he’s gone 7-for-12 with two doubles, a homer, five RBIs and a 1.643 OPS that dwarfs anyone else on the roster.

Which raises the obvious question: Why hasn’t Garrett been in the lineup, or taken even one plate appearance, since Sunday?

The answer, according to Davey Martinez, isn’t as simple as it may seem. There’s the matter of the opponent’s starting pitcher on a given day. There’s the performances of Lane Thomas and Alex Call to date. There’s defensive considerations.

Put that all together, and Garrett finds himself on the bench for the fifth straight game.

“That’s a matchup (issue),” Martinez said. “And those other guys are playing well. Lane and Alex Call have been getting some big hits for us, getting on base. It’s tough to take them out right now. I’ve talked to (Garrett) about just hanging in there. We haven’t faced any lefties, either, in a while. Just be ready when you’re called upon.”

Garrett wasn’t on the Opening Day roster after losing a spring training competition for bench spots to Call and Michael Chavis, but he was promoted from Triple-A Rochester only three days in after Corey Dickerson went on the 10-day injured list with a calf strain.

He was in the lineup for the first time April 5 when the Nationals were facing Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan and went 1-for-2 with two walks. He wasn’t in the lineup the following afternoon against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland, but was back in there April 8 to face left-hander Austin Gomber and wound up 4-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs. That earned him a spot in the next day’s lineup against right-hander Ryan Feltner, and he promptly went 2-for-5 with two singles.

The Nationals have faced one left-handed starter since: the Angels' Jose Suarez on Monday. They haven't used a pinch-hitter for any situation all week. So Garrett is left to sit on the bench and try to keep himself ready in case the call does come. It’s a challenge for anyone, but is it tougher physically or mentally?

“I think mentally,” the 27-year-old said. “Physically, you just do your best to get your body warm. But mentally, throw yourself into the game. You really have to focus on keeping up with the game, who’s warming up in the pen, what inning we’re in, what matchup you could face. I definitely say mentally, for sure.”

Garrett tries to keep himself ready beyond the typical rounds of pregame work by facing high-velocity pitches and even breaking balls on pitching machines and by standing in the box when pitchers are throwing between-starts bullpen sessions.

“Try to see game speed as much as possible,” he said.

Beyond his lack of big league experience – 84 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks last season – Garrett finds himself the unfortunate victim of circumstance here, most notably the side of the plate he happens to hit from. All three of the Nationals’ starting outfielders (Call, Robles, Thomas) are right-handed. So is designated hitter Joey Meneses.

“If Stone was left-handed,” Martinez said, “it might be a different conversation.”

Even so, doesn’t it get tempting at times to want to put a right-handed potential power bat into a lineup that struggles so much to hit for power?

“It could be,” Martinez said. “Against left-handed pitching, it would be nice to get him in there. I look at all the matchups, all the numbers. Right now with Alex and Lane, they match up better. But I told him: ‘Hang in there. You’re going to get some opportunities. Just be ready.’”