Meneses (3 doubles vs. Tigers) making most of opportunity

DETROIT -- Joey Meneses likes the engagement of starting at first base. Having to quickly shift his focus to defense also helps him move on from a forgettable at-bat faster than sitting in the dugout waiting for his next turn up when he is the designated hitter.

Meneses has been in the Nationals' lineup as the DH for the second season in a row, with Joey Gallo at first base. But when Gallo was placed on the injured list for the second time this season after straining his left hamstring on Tuesday, the Nats called on Meneses to start at first the past two games in Detroit.

The results: 4-for-7 with three doubles, two runs scored, one RBI, two walks, one strikeout and seven total bases.

“I love it,” manager Dave Martinez said after the Nationals’ 7-2 loss to the Tigers on Thursday at Comerica Park. “Like I said, he’s got to hit in order for us to be successful. He’s hitting in the middle of our lineup, he’s got to get on base, drive in some runs for us. Last two days, he’s done well.”

Meneses wrapped the series -- which the Nats won, 2-1 -- by going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles in the matinee. It was his fifth career multi-double game and first since last Aug. 17 against the Red Sox (he started that game at first base).

“I know he’s trying to really stay through the baseball a little bit better,” Martinez said. “He’s pulling the balls a little bit better, and that’s great. We’re going to continue to work with him. Right now, he’s going to play a lot of first base.”

Meneses played first base in his breakout rookie season (13 home runs in 56 games) after he debuted on Aug. 2, 2022. Last year, Dominic Smith played 140 at first and Meneses played 19. This season, Gallo (who has been on the IL for 18 games) has played 36 games at first and Meneses has played 30. No. 16 prospect Trey Lipscomb, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, has played two games at first as well.

Meneses entered Wednesday batting .287 with an .802 OPS at first base (82 games) compared to .260 and a .664 OPS as DH (156 games).

“I think obviously, I like to play first base more because I feel like I am in the game,” Meneses said in Spanish on Tuesday. “Then, when I am DH, I am a little more relaxed because I don’t have to play defense, but I just have time to think about hitting. It is a little frustrating when I am DH and I’m not batting well, because my mind is only thinking about that. When I am at first base, I forget a little about hitting and think about defense.”

The Nationals are eager for offensive consistency from Meneses, who began the season hitting .200 in April. He was the only Nats player with multiple hits on Thursday, and he improved his batting average to .298 with eight RBIs in his past 15 games.

“I think that’s a guy when he’s hot, it changes our whole dynamic because he gives CJ [Abrams], myself and some of us protection early on,” said No. 2 hitter Lane Thomas. “I think if he gets hot, we can break this thing open.”

As for calling up Lipscomb amid Gallo’s injury, it doesn’t have to be an either-or situation with Meneses. Lipscomb, the Nats 2023 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year, has played first base, second base, third base, left field and designated hitter with Rochester this season. Meneses could continue to establish a rhythm at first while Lipscomb plays third base and Nick Senzel has a day off or appears at DH, as an example.

“He’s going to play,” Martinez said. “We’ve got a couple lefties coming up [against the Marlins], so I’m going to put him out there. I haven’t decided where yet, but he’ll play here in the next few days.”