Nationals' Luis Garcia: Not guaranteed second base job
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Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Monday that Garcia is not guaranteed the second base job going into next season, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Garcia battled through a disappointing 2023 campaign, slashing just .266/.304/.385 while spending some time back in the minors. The 23-year-old remains talented and would seem to be the odds-on favorite to man second base on Opening Day for the Nationals, but the gig won't be handed to him. Jake Alu, Ildemaro Vargas and Jeter Downs represent potential alternatives to Garcia at the keystone.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Sitting out finale
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Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Garcia started the past 13 games but will head to the bench for Sunday's series finale. The 24-year-old posted a .404/.440/.702 slash line during that stretch, which boosted his season-long OPS to .686 to go along with nine homers, nine steals, 50 RBI and 60 runs in 480 plate appearances.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Raps out two hits
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Garcia went 2-for-5 with a double and a run in Friday's 10-6 win over Atlanta.
Since returning to the majors Sept. 8 after a five-week stint at Triple-A Rochester, Garcia has restored some faith that he might be the Nationals' long-term answer at second base. After going just 2-for-22 in his first eight games following his call-up, Garcia has caught fire at the plate and has climbed up the batting order accordingly. He's slashing .419/.457/.721 with seven extra-base hits over his last 12 games and has batted out of the No. 5 spot in five straight contests.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Stays warm Sunday
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Garcia went 4-for-9 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and an additional run scored over both games of Sunday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.
The infielder has hit safely in five straight games, four of which have been multi-hit efforts. Garcia is hitting .500 (11-for-22) over that short span, which has raised his batting average from .252 to .265 for the year. He's up to nine homers, 49 RBI, 59 runs scored and nine stolen bases over 117 contests this season. His improved stretch of hitting has helped him stay in the lineup regularly in recent weeks.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Homers again Sunday
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Garcia went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's extra-innings win over the Brewers.
He drove a Brandon Woodruff fastball out of the park to center field in the second inning, the only run the Nationals managed until they scored the game-winner in the top of the 11th. Garcia has gone yard in back-to-back games, but since rejoining the big-league roster Sept. 8 he's batting just .207 (6-for-29), and the 23-year-old's future as a starting-caliber player in the majors remains in doubt.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Goes deep in loss
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Garcia went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and a walk in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Garcia recorded the only extra-base hit of the game for Washington with his third-inning solo homer against Corbin Burnes. The infielder added another RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. Garcia was recalled Sept. 8 from an extended stay in the minors and had been struggling since his return prior to Saturday, going 2-for-22 over his first eight games back.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Hits bench against lefty
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Garcia isn't in the Nationals' lineup Friday against the Brewers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
With southpaw Wade Miley on the mound for Milwaukee, Garcia will be forced to the bench for the start of Friday's game. Michael Chavis will instead start at the keystone while batting seventh.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: On bench against lefty
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Garcia is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates.
Ildemaro Vargas will start at second base and bat fifth as the Nationals take on left-hander Bailey Falter. Garcia, who was recalled Friday from Triple-A Rochester, is expected to play mostly versus righties down the stretch.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Steps out of lineup
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Garcia is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Postreports.
Garcia started the past two games after being recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, and he'll head to the bench after going 1-for-7 with an RBI and a run. Michael Chavis will take over at the keystone and bat sixth.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Returns to big leagues
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Garcia was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Garcia was sent down the minors in early August following a poor start to the second half, but he's being given another opportunity even though he slashed only .268/.315/.381 with one homer and two steals in 25 games for Rochester. The 23-year-old should receive regular starts at second base, at least against right-handed pitching.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Returning to majors
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Garcia is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Rochester ahead of Friday's series opener against the Dodgers, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Garcia has slashed just .268/.315/.381 with one homer and two steals in 25 games since being demoted to Triple-A in early August, but the Nationals will give him another major-league opportunity as they look ahead to 2024 and beyond. Jake Alu has been getting most of the starts at second base in recent weeks, but he could shift more into an outfield role as the Nats deal with injuries in that area of the depth chart.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Demoted to Triple-A
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The Nationals optioned Garcia to Triple-A Rochester following Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Brewers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Garcia, who was on the bench Wednesday but entered the contest late as a pinch hitter, will head back to the minors after going 12-for-61 (.197 average) while drawing just two walks in 18 games since the All-Star break. The Nationals haven't announced an immediate replacement for Garcia, but among players currently on the 26-man active roster, Ildemaro Vargas or Michael Chavis could be first in line to fill in for him at the keystone.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: On bench against lefty
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Garcia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals are facing a lefty (Wade Miley) and playing a day game after a night game, so manager Dave Martinez likely viewed it as an opportune time to give the lefty-hitting Garcia a day off following a stretch of seven consecutive starts. Michael Chavis will replace Garcia at second base and bat ninth.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Swipes eighth bag
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Garcia went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-6 win over the Mets.
The 23-year-old second baseman is heating up again, banging out five hits in the last two games and batting .314 (11-for-35) over his last 10. Garcia's production has been inconsistent this season, but he continues to tease some fantasy upside -- after beginning his big-league career having gone 4-for-11 on stolen base attempts over his first three seasons, he's 8-for-12 on the basepaths in 2023.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Swats sixth homer
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Garcia went 3-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Mets.
He spoiled Max Scherzer's shutout bid in the seventh inning with his sixth long ball of the season, but that was one of the few bright spots on the night for the Nationals. Garcia snapped a 44-game homer drought with the blast, a stretch in which the 23-year-old slashed .245/.275/.308 with 16 runs, 16 RBI and four steals.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Not in lineup Tuesday
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Garcia is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus the Rockies.
Michael Chavis will start at second base and bat seventh as the Nationals face off against left-hander Austin Gomber. The left-handed-hitting Garcia has slashed just .257/.266/.391 with one home run in 114 plate appearances this year versus southpaws.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Picks up sixth steal
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Garcia went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs.
Garcia has three multi-hit efforts in July, but he's batting just .200 (9-for-45) through 12 contests this month. He's added two steals and five RBI, but it's been a noticeable drop in performance for the second baseman, who hit a steady .289 in June. For the season, he's at a .266/.301/.370 slash line with five home runs, 41 RBI, 41 runs scored and six steals over 86 games.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Not starting nightcap
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Garcia isn't in Washington's lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Garcia went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored during Game 1 on Saturday and will now get a breather for the second game. Michael Chavis will take over at the keystone and bat ninth.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Getting Sunday off
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Garcia is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
The lefty-hitting Garcia typically plays regularly against both right- and left-handed pitching, but because he had started each of the last 16 games along with the fact that the Phillies are bringing southpaw Ranger Suarez to the hill, the Nationals likely viewed Sunday's contest as an optimal time to give the infielder a breather. Michael Chavis will check in for Garcia at the keystone.
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Nationals' Luis Garcia: Notches fourth steal
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Garcia went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one stolen base in Tuesday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Mariners.
This was Garcia's third straight multi-hit game, a stretch that follows his 0-for-11 skid across three contests. The second baseman has hit well in June, batting .303 (27-for-89) over 23 contests with six extra-base hits. For the season, he's slashing .280/.315/.394 with five home runs, four steals, 36 RBI and 35 runs scored through 305 plate appearances as a near-everyday presence in the Nationals' lineup.
