Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is not in Thursday afternoon's starting lineup versus Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale. The lefty-swinging infielder got the start against another lefty in Boston's James Paxton on Wednesday but went hitless with a stolen base and a strikeout in four trips to the plate. The 22-year-old has dealt with a back injury of late, which could help explain his absence on Thursday, but Abrams is also hitting just .190 with a .596 OPS versus southpaw pitching this season. Overall, Abrams is hitting .253 on the season but has provided a nice combination of power and speed with 11 homers and 31 stolen bases across 112 appearances. Former Red Sox farmhand Jeter Downs will take over at shortstop and hit ninth against Sale Thursday in Washington.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (back) is back in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday and is playing shortstop and batting leadoff against the visiting Boston Red Sox and right-hander Nick Pivetta. Abrams is ready to return after Monday's off day after he was taken out of Sunday's game early against the Oakland Athletics with back spasms. Fantasy managers will want to get the 22-year-old back in their starting lineups. In his first full season as the team's starting shortstop in D.C., Abrams is batting .255/.306/.413 with 11 home runs, 22 doubles, four triples, 44 RBI, 29 stolen bases and 57 runs scored in 110 games. He's been better since the All-Star break, hitting .280 (33-for-118) with four homers, six doubles, a triple, nine RBI, 15 steals and 22 runs in 29 games (28 starts).

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (back) was forced to exit early during Sunday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The 22-year-old was pulled out of the contest due to back spasms. It was a 7-2 ballgame at the time, so possibly the team decided to take Abrams out as a precaution. At the moment, fantasy managers should consider Abrams as day-to-day. Fantasy managers should get an update on his status before their next game.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams logged a walk-off single in the ninth inning to knock off the Rockies 5-4 on Wednesday. The Nationals recorded all but one of their runs in the ninth frame, primarily relying on four walks and a hit-by-pitch to do the damage. Washington's two hits were ground balls through the infield to end the game. Abrams has been on a hot streak this month, posting an excellent batting average of .388. He logged his 20th run in 20 games after drawing a base on balls against Colorado.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams didn't manage to get a hit in the team's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, but he made his presence felt on the basepaths with two stolen bases. Abrams finished the day 0-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout. The former sixth overall pick is hitting only .233 (63-for-270) on the year, but the 22-year-old has plenty of upside and is at least contributing in the stolen-base column (11 this year) for his fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues. Since a three-hit game on June 21, Abrams is hitting an improved .289 (13-for-45) with a homer, four doubles, a triple, three RBI, four thefts and eight runs scored in 13 games. His fantasy managers are hoping he'll continue swinging it to close out the month of July.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (elbow) is back at shortstop and is hitting ninth in the batting order on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Abrams was day-to-day this week after getting hit by a pitch on his right elbow Tuesday. He sat out of Wednesday's game but has returned on Friday after having Thursday's off day to rest up. The 22-year-old is mostly useful for his speed (nine stolen bases) in deep-mixed fantasy leagues. He's returning to a .233/.279/.390 slash line with seven home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 33 RBI and 30 runs scored in 72 games in his first full season in D.C. Abrams has hit well in his last 11 games, going 12-for-37 (.324) with a homer, three RBI and three stolen bases.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (elbow) and first baseman Joey Meneses are both getting the day off on Wednesday as the team takes on the Seattle Mariners. Abrams is setting out with a bruised right elbow after getting hit by a pitch on Tuesday night, but fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. Ildemaro Vargas is starting at the 6 and is batting sixth, while Dominic Smith will get the start at first base and hit fifth against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. Abrams, a former first-rounder, isn't hitting for average in his first full season in D.C. and has added seven home runs, 14 doubles and nine stolen bases in 72 games. Meneses is contributing a strong .287 average (87-for-303) but without the counting stats (two homers, no steals).

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams went 2-for-4 with a long ball, two runs scored and a stolen base in an easy win over the New York Mets on Monday. He's now hitting .309 in 55 at-bats since April 26. The co-centerpiece of the Juan Soto trade last summer alongside MacKenzie Gore, Abrams is starting to flash the talent that made him the sixth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old is still a work in progress, though, leading the National League in fielding errors committed this season. Even so, he's slowly raising his dynasty fantasy value. Abrams looks forward to a series against the Miami Marlins starting on Tuesday. He's hitting .370 in 10 games against Miami during his short MLB career thus far.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is getting the day off on Sunday. In his place, Ildemaro Vargas is starting at shortstop and is hitting seventh in the batting order against left-hander Jared Shuster and the Atlanta Braves. It has been a rough start to the 2023 regular season for Abrams, who has gone 0-for-7 at the plate while also committing three errors on defense in the first two games for the Nats. The 22-year-old has plenty of long-term upside, but he'll need to show more offensively if he wants to move up in Washington's lineup eventually this year. Vargas, 31, has a .243/.279/.368 slash line in seven big-league seasons with only 12 home runs, 65 RBI and six stolen bases in 240 career games.

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said he thinks both infielders CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia could be top-of-the-order hitters eventually, but they are both expected to hit near the bottom of the regular lineup when the 2023 season begins. When Abrams joined the team in mid-August in 2022, he hit mostly seventh, eighth or even ninth until he was moved up to the No. 2 spot in late September. Abrams has the chance to work his way up the lineup with a strong spring performance, but Martinez isn't going to force the issue with the 22-year-old. Lane Thomas appears set to open the year in the leadoff spot for the Nats. Abrams was a bit underwhelming with the bat in his first 302 big-league plate appearances, and he'll need to start drawing more walks to earn a move up Washington's regular season lineup.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams' offseason work included speed work and swing and pitch recognition. He also gained six to seven pounds and now weighs 190 pounds heading into the 2023 season. Abrams said the added weight will help him with power while playing through his first full big-league season. The 22-year-old was acquired by the Nationals from the San Diego Padres in the blockbuster trade involving Juan Soto last August. The former top prospect hit .258 with no home runs, 10 RBI and six stolen bases in 44 games in D.C. after the trade. Abrams is still young and maturing, so fantasy managers would be wise not to expect much from his bat just yet, but the speed should be useful as a middle infielder. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 29 fantasy shortstop.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (shoulder) exited Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Mets in Game 2 of a doubleheader early with pain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder after diving for a ground ball. He received an MRI after exiting, per The Washington Post's Jesse Dougherty. The 22-year-old rookie went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Abrams came into the season as a higher-end fantasy prospect. He hasn't been great but has shown some promising signs with the Padres and Nationals, slashing .246/.280/.324 with two home runs, 21 RBI and seven stolen bases in 302 plate appearances. Speed is his calling card, so Abrams will need to work on his 1.7% walk rate and .280 on-base percentage in 2023 to be considered a viable fantasy option.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams had a strong game Wednesday, going 3-for-5 at the plate with three singles, including a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th to give the team a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Abrams also scored a run. With just a .603 OPS through his first 281 plate appearances, Abrams is very difficult to roster in redraft leagues, but he is a must in dynasty and keeper formats. He will be given every opportunity to prove he can be an all-category producer heading into 2023, as the rebuilding Washington Nationals can afford to have patience.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is starting at the 6 and is batting second in the lineup on Monday against the Atlanta Braves and right-hander Bryce Elder. It's the first time that Abrams has hit any higher than sixth in the team's batting order in his 36th game for the club since being acquired from the San Diego Padres in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the Friars in early August. He's on a recent hot streak at the plate, though, and he's now hitting .248/.271/.328 with no homers, nine RBI, 14 runs scored and four stolen bases in 129 plate appearances for Washington. The 21-year-old shortstop will have more fantasy appeal, especially in DFS lineups, this high up in the batting order.

Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, and he'll make his debut with the team against Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman. Abrams will start at shortstop and hit seventh in the batting order. The young shortstop was sent to D.C. by the San Diego Padres at the Aug. 2 trade deadline in the blockbuster deal that involved outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell. The 21-year-old rookie hit just .232/.285/.320 with two homers, 11 RBI, 16 runs scored and one stolen base in his first 46 major league games with the Padres earlier this year, but his power/speed upside makes him worth rostering in nearly all fantasy formats. Expect him to see regular playing time at shortstop in Washington going forward.

The Washington Nationals are expected to call up top prospect shortstop C.J. Abrams from Triple-A Rochester on Monday. He was dealt to the Nationals from the Padres as part of the blockbuster deal involving star outfielder Juan Soto. The 21-year-old slashed .232/.285/.320 with two homers, 16 runs, 11 RBI, and a stolen base with the San Diego in 21 games. Luis Garcia (groin) is expected to be placed on the injured list Monday. Abrams will fill in at second base while Garcia is sidelined. Fantasy managers should look to add Abrams in all league formats as the upside is there for the former first-round pick.

Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garca "has been getting work in at second base in anticipation of C.J. Abrams' arrival," manager Davey Martinez told Bobby Blanco of MASN. Presumably, the newly-acquired Abrams will play shortstop once he returns to the majors. Garca, 22, is slashing .297/.303/.434 with just two walks and 46 strikeouts through 55 games this season. Although he has a poor walk rate and should be left on waivers in most leagues, Garca has put plenty of baseballs in play. Meanwhile, Abrams was acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade. The 21-year-old hasn't looked great in the majors this season, but he sports an impressive .314/.364/.507 slash line at the Triple-A level and boasts plenty of upside. He should be rostered in all dynasty leagues especially now that he's no longer blocked by an elite talent like Fernando Tatis Jr.

San Diego Padres shortstop C.J. Abrams (biceps) will miss his fourth consecutive game on Tuesday when the team takes on right-hander Garrett Hill and the Detroit Tigers. Ha-Seong Kim will be covering shortstop for the team once again. Abrams has been battling biceps soreness since Saturday. He'll have one more chance to play in the team's series against the Tigers on Wednesday, then the Padres get an off day on Thursday. Over 43 games on the season, the 21-year-old rookie has slashed .231/.280/.322 with two home runs, one stolen base, 11 RBI and 15 runs.

San Diego Padres shortstop C.J. Abrams (biceps) was held out of action once again on Monday with biceps soreness. He has now missed three consecutive games due to the ailment. Ha-Seong Kim has handled shortstop duties during each of the team's last three games with Abrams out. Abrams has been quietly making some progress at the plate this month. Over 12 games in July, he's batted .300. However, he has just two extra-base hits (a homer and a double) and zero walks this month and he still has just one stolen base over three attempts on the year. The 21-year-old rookie has immense upside and dynasty managers should be very excited for the future with Abrams. But in season-long leagues, he is someone who can be left on waivers in most formats.

Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Sunday that San Diego Padres shortstop C.J. Abrams was pulled from the lineup for Triple-A El Paso and could be headed to the big-league squad. Padres third baseman Manny Machado (ankle) suffered a left ankle sprain on Sunday and could be sidelined for the immediate future. If Machado is sidelined, Abrams is likely to slot right into the Padres lineup. More should be known on the extent of Machado's status on Monday, but his status will be relevant to how much playing time Abrams would receive in the majors. Abrams is one of the top prospects in the game and broke camp with the Padres, but struggled with a .182 batting average, one home run, four RBI and a stolen base in 55 at-bats. Despite his struggles at the big-league level, Abrams has put up strong numbers in Triple-A with seven home runs, 28 RBI and 10 stolen bases to go along with a healthy .314 batting average. Abrams' contributions will hinge on Machado's status, but managers should take a flier on Abrams and see how his situation plays from there.