Washington Nationals news & notes: CJ Abrams back up top; Nats claim reliever Michael Rucker off waivers…

Notes and quotes after the Nationals and Pirates were rained out last night… Doubleheader today (1:35/6:40).

ABRAMS UP TOP:

With the Nationals set to face Pirates’ right-hander (Luis Ortiz) last night in PNC Park, CJ Abrams moved back to the top of the lineup after hitting 6th and 7th in his previous five games as he tries to work his way out of a prolonged slump.

Abrams, (26 for 150, .173/.233/.267, five doubles, three home runs, eight walks, and 38 Ks over 39 games in the so-called second-half of the season), was just 2 for 26 (.077/.111/.077 line in his last seven games) going into the second of four in Pittsburgh, and his manager, Davey Martinez, said it was a good opportunity to let his shortstop see some fastballs.

“For him, this is a good matchup,” Martinez explained. “This guy has got a good fastball, so we’re going to get him up there. And I wanted to bump [Dylan] Crews down a little bit, just to kind of relax him a little bit.”

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

“Tonight, was a night I wanted to get Abrams back up there,” he added. “See if we can get him some fastballs.”

Crews, the Nats’ 22-year-old rookie, hit at the top of the lineup for the previous seven games with Abrams bumped down, going 6 for 30 (.200/.273/.433), with a double and two homers in that stretch, and he was 2 for 16 (.125/.263/.125) in the previous four.

“I think he’s doing fine,” Martinez said of what he’s seen from Crews so far. “He’s getting his hits, like I said, this is more about just giving him a little breather, letting him relax a little, see some pitches. But he’s one of those young hitters that’s really talented. As you know, he is being watched very carefully. I just want to make sure he’s doing everything right.

“And, honestly, really just try to get him some success. But he’s doing well. He’s really doing well. I love watching him play. He’s very astute. He moves around really good in the outfield. He works good at-bats, he sees some pitches, so he’s going to be good.”

Early in his time in the majors (nine games in), Martinez said he’s watching Crews, (the No. 2 overall pick in 2023), adjust to the league as they get a book on him and adjust the way they are attacking him each night.

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

He’s trying to put Crews in a position to succeed on a nightly basis.

“It’s all about matchups right now,” he said. “A lot of guys, if they’ve got good sliders they’re throwing him sliders, guys that have good rising fastballs, they seem to be pounding him in with rising fastballs, so the key with him is to make sure he’s getting ready early and swings at strikes.

“When he starts chasing that’s something that we’ve got to be aware of, because he’s really good. He’s got a good eye.

“Every day is a different challenge for him. But he’s learning. What I love is that he’s up here right now, he’s getting a chance to go through the league a little bit and see all these things, so once he gets a feel for what they’re trying to do to him he’s going to be just fine.”

WAIVER CLAIM:

Before last night’s game the Nationals announced a waiver claim, reporting on X/Twitter the addition of right-handed reliever Michael Rucker off of outright waivers from Philadelphia:

“As a corresponding move, Travis Blankenhorn was designated for assignment,” the club added in the post, noting Rucker was assigned to Triple-A Rochester.

Rucker, 30, was a Chicago Cubs’ 11th Round pick in 2016, who was drafted by Baltimore’s Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft in ‘19, and returned to the Cubs in March of 2020, who had his contract purchased by the Phillies in February of this year.

In 96 games in the majors between 2021-23 with the Cubs, he’s made 96 appearances in relief, with a 4.96 ERA in 123 ¹⁄₃ IP.

“What I remember from him was with the Cubs. He pitched in the big leagues with the Cubs. Good rising fastball, good breaking ball, changeup/slider mix,” Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez told reporters of the addition to the organization.

“I didn’t see him pitch that much this year, but we felt that he still has some value. Because he does have a live fastball, up in the mid-90s.

“A good opportunity to see him a little bit in Triple-A and see how he does.”

Will Rucker get a shot in the majors if he performs well in Rochester in the news few weeks.

“I think we’re looking ahead a little bit more beyond this year, but you never know what our needs are going to be,” Martinez said.

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