Alex Call News: Playing time trending up

Call will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Giants, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

Call will pick up his fourth start in five games, with his outlook for playing time having improved with both Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder) on the injured list. The Nationals called up two of their top outfield prospects in Robert Hassell and Daylen Lile to replace them, but Call should occupy a regular spot in the lineup versus left-handed pitching while still being in the mix against righties, too. The 30-year-old has held his own in matchups with same-handed pitching this season, slashing .254/.393/.373 (122 wRC+) in his 86 plate appearances versus righties.