NEW YORK – The Nationals left New York on Wednesday knowing they would need to make a roster move before Friday’s series opener against the Rays. Drew Millas departed yesterday’s 11-2 loss to the Yankees in the third inning after he was called for catcher’s interference during an Austin Wells at-bat against Cade Cavalli.

When Wells’ bat made contact with Millas’ catching hand while swinging at a 97 mph fastball from Cavalli, the backstop suffered a fracture and dislocation of his left second finger, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy. So the Nationals will call up C.J. Stubbs from Triple-A Rochester to fill in as the backup catcher, a source familiar with the upcoming move confirmed.

The Washington Post was first to report the news yesterday.

Stubbs’ first appearance with the Nats will be his major league debut after spending the last six seasons in the minor leagues following his selection by the Astros in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Southern California.

The younger brother of Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, the 28-year-old backstop signed a minor league deal with the Nationals after the Astros released him in May 2024. In 24 games with Rochester this year following a promotion from Double-A Harrisburg, he is hitting .161 with a .602 OPS, three doubles, a triple, a homer and five RBIs.

In 22 games behind the dish with the Red Wings, Stubbs has thrown out 15-of-39 (38.5 percent) of would-be base stealers.

Stubbs was one of three catchers the Nationals had in Rochester to replace Millas on the active big league roster. Francisco Mejía, a 29-year-old switch-hitter who signed a minor league deal out of the Mexican League in July, and Brady Lindsly, a 27-year-old former fourth-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma in 2020, were the other options.

The Nationals’ 40-man roster has two open spots, so no other roster moves will need to be made.

The injury to Millas comes at an unfortunate time for the 27-year-old. Since being recalled to back up Riley Adams when Keibert Ruiz landed on the concussion injured list in July, Millas has hit .306 with an .807 OPS in 18 games with the Nats.

While Ruiz still hasn’t been able to ramp up baseball activity in his rehab, putting the rest of his own season in question, Millas and Adams were getting significant playing time to show the organization they deserve to remain in its long-term plans.

“I feel bad for him because he was playing good and he was hitting really good, too, and catching good, too. But it's bad news,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said after yesterday’s game.

Although the team has yet to put a timeline on Millas’ recovery, typically the expected rehab time for a fractured and dislocated finger is about six weeks. There are just a little more than four weeks left in the season.

“Right now, he's got a fracture, so we gotta see how long he's gonna (be out),” Cairo said. “He's gonna go see the doctor when we get home.”

* In other catching news, Caleb Lomavita was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg earlier this week.

The 22-year-old slashed .275/.339/.364 with a .703 OPS, 16 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 44 RBIs and 19 walks in 99 games with High-A Wilmington to start his first full professional season. He made his Double-A debut last night in Harrisburg, going 1-for-4 at the plate and throwing out 1-of-2 would-be base stealers from behind it.

Lomavita was selected out of the University of California-Berkeley in the Competitive Balance A Round (39th overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft with a pick the Nats acquired in a package from the Royals in exchange for Hunter Harvey.

Baseball America ranks Lomavita as the Nats’ No. 10 prospect and MLB Pipeline ranks him at No. 12.