Parra activated, GarcÃa sits again, Adon could pitch Sunday
By Gerardo Parra is getting one last shot to finish the season on the field, but it appears Luis GarcÃa's season may have already ended.
Parra was activated off the 10-day injured list prior to this afternoon's game against the Red Sox, with left-hander Josh Rogers placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. It's a fortuitous break for Parra, who last played Sept. 4 before being taken off the roster with inflammation in his right knee.
The popular veteran outfielder, whose future beyond this season is uncertain, should get a chance to at least pinch-hit today, tomorrow or both, and the crowd at Nationals Park should get a chance to experience the "Baby Shark" phenomenon for old time's sake.
"When I talked to him today, he was excited about getting an opportunity to come back and try to get at least an at-bat or two," manager Davey Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "I'm excited about it. If we get an opportunity to get him out there, it would be great. It gives him an opportunity to finish the season on the field instead of the IL."
After spending last season playing in Japan, Parra rejoined the Nationals on June 20 and immediately doubled in his first at-bat back. It was mostly a struggle for him, though: In 105 plate appearances, he's batting .232 with two homers, 10 RBIs, a .288 on-base percentage and .636 OPS.
Parra's return was made possible by Rogers' hamstring injury, which the lefty informed his manager this morning had been bothering him for a little while, even though he looked strong pitching six innings Friday night.
"Josh came in today, I talked to him for a while," Martinez said. "He said his hamstring was barking. I talked to Parra, see how he felt, instead of trying to get somebody up here. We decided to just put Josh on the IL, give Parra maybe an at-bat or something like that and get him back out there."
The Nationals could use the extra player on their bench for these final two games, because GarcÃa is out for the second straight day with a sore ribcage. The 21-year-old second baseman was hoping to return to the lineup today, but the club isn't going to risk it.
"He took some swings today and still felt it, so I don't want to take any chances with him right now," Martinez said. "We'll see how the game goes and see where he's at. He's getting treatment right now. But with two days left, I don't want him to leave this year being super-hurt."
Meanwhile, there's another potential name in the running to start Sunday's season finale on the mound: Joan Adon. The 23-year-old right-hander is at Nationals Park today, summoned from Triple-A Rochester, and could be added to the active roster to pitch Sunday, depending on circumstances.
"We don't know that yet," Martinez said. "We'll see. We brought him here just in case. We'll see how the game goes. There's a good possibility. I'll let you know after the game, but we wanted to get him here just in case we needed somebody."
Adon was 7-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 21 minor league starts at three levels of the Nationals farm system this season, 17 of those at Single-A Wilmington. He made only one start at Triple-A, tossing four scoreless innings.
Adon is a candidate to start, or possibly pitch in relief. The Nationals also could use Paolo Espino (who threw only 34 pitches Wednesday) and several relievers to get through Sunday's game.