MIAMI – James Wood is getting a rare day off, the Nationals slugger finding himself on the bench for tonight’s series finale against the Marlins.
It’s only the fourth time in his big league career Wood hasn’t been in the Nats’ starting lineup. All four have come within the last two months, since interim manager Miguel Cairo replaced Davey Martinez.
Why tonight? Cairo described the decision as involving a combination of Miami’s starting pitcher (left-hander Ryan Weathers) and the artificial turf at loanDepot Park.
“We’re playing on turf, and I want to make sure,” Cairo said. “He’s been DHing, playing the outfield. I told him whenever Ryan Weathers was going to pitch, I was going to give him a little break for his knees and his body. Believe me, he’s been playing a lot, and he’s been unbelievable. One day won’t be bad for him.”
Wood started the first 174 games of his career before sitting July 13 in the Nationals’ first half finale in Milwaukee. He also was held out of the lineup July 28 in Houston and Aug. 17 against the Phillies (though he came off the bench for one at-bat in that one).
A clear-cut All-Star in the first half whose OPS rose on July 3 as high as .958 to go along with 23 homers and 102 strikeouts in 387 plate appearances on July 3, Wood has struggled to maintain consistent offensive production since. His OPS over his last 56 games is .627, with only four homers and 96 strikeouts in 242 plate appearances.
He struck out three more times during Wednesday night’s loss, leaving him with 198 for the season, one shy of Adam Dunn’s club record from 2010. With 16 games remaining on the schedule after tonight, he’s 25 strikeouts shy of Mark Reynolds’ major league record 223 from 2009.
“He’s been dealing really good with the amount of games and amount of at-bats,” Cairo said.
* With MacKenzie Gore activated off the 15-day injured list, the Nationals needed to make a corresponding roster move. They chose to option reliever Orlando Ribalta to Triple-A Rochester, which leaves them with six starters.
For now, the plans to bump everyone already in the rotation back a day. That means Brad Lord, who was originally scheduled to start tonight against the Marlins, will now pitch Friday night against the Pirates in D.C. Andrew Alvarez will follow on Saturday, with Cade Cavalli taking the mound Sunday.
The Nats haven’t announced plans beyond that, but it stands to reason Mitchell Parker will start Monday against the Braves, with Gore and Jake Irvin then lined up for Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader. It remains to be seen how they approach the season’s final two weeks, but Cairo acknowledged today they’re at least considering a six-man rotation.
“We’re talking about it,” Cairo said. “I think it’s maybe going to be like that. I think that’s one way we’re thinking about it. But right now, (Gore) is pitching today. Tomorrow, we’ll figure it out.”