What's clicking for Abrams? 3 straight games, 3 straight homers

WASHINGTON – CJ Abrams has been feeling loose before games lately. A result of that relaxed vibe has been homering again … and again … and again.

Abrams went yard for the third consecutive game for the first time in his career on Saturday against the Dodgers.

“It just shows that putting in work and staying disciplined at the plate comes with good results,” Abrams said after the Nats' 10-5 loss. “And I’ve just got to keep it going.”

Abrams, 25, is the first Nationals shortstop to homer in three consecutive games in a single season since Ian Desmond did it July 23-25, 2015. The last Nats player to do so in three straight games was Josh Bell from Sept. 7-9 of last season.

“It looks nice and easy, it doesn’t look like he’s trying to overswing or do too much,” said manager Blake Butera. “Then he takes his nice, smooth swing and the ball’s jumping right now. That’s the biggest thing for CJ: I think when he just lets the game come to him a little bit, those good things seem to happen.”

On Wednesday, the lefty batter hit his season debut dinger 391 feet off Phillies righty Brad Keller and drove in three runs. In the series opener against the Dodgers on Friday, Abrams connected on another three-run dinger, 387-feet deep versus right-hander Emmet Sheehan.

Saturday’s shot traveled 361 feet off righty Ben Casparius to make it a trifecta.

“I think he’s done a nice job of getting in advantage counts, and then when he gets a good pitch to hit, he’s barreling it up,” said Butera. “He’s doing a lot of damage to the pull-side, and we’re just trying to lean into that. I think we’re just trying to keep CJ in his approach and executing his game plan going to the plate, not trying to do too much. I think when CJ just stays nice and loose, you see the balls that he’s hitting right now to right field.”

Abrams has picked up momentum after beginning the year 4-for-17 with a quartet of singles and no extra-base hits. He has honed in on his approach at the plate.

“[Pull-side power] has been there, but being able to swing at pitches I can do it with is big,” said Abrams. “In the past, I would kind of swing at balls outside of the zone, and I’m kind of shrinking it this year.”

Abrams, who usually had hit in the top of the order, has done damage batting in the middle of the lineup. He hit fifth on Saturday.

“It’s big,” Abrams said of having runners on base. “Being able to get people on base and being able to drive them in, being fifth is a good spot to be to drive in runs.”

Abrams is tied for first among all players in RBIs with Liam Hicks and Garrett Mitchell.

He also ranks first on the team in runs batted in, with Luis García Jr., Keibert Ruiz and Joey Wiemer next up with four apiece. No other player in team history (2005-present) has recorded 12 RBIs in his first seven games to begin a season.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Jake Irvin. “He’s been great, and I think it’s really cool that he’s doing it with runners on. A guy that’s in the heart of our lineup and coming up doing damage, it’s special. And I’m excited to continue to watch him work.”

Abrams has opened the season slashing .286/.375/.607 with a .982 OPS in 28 at-bats. He is looking to get back on the pace that led to his first All-Star selection in 2024.

Said Butera, “The message for CJ has just been, ‘Stick to being you.’”