Washington Nationals’ lineup for series opener with Pittsburgh Pirates...

Through 28 games, the Washington Nationals have produced a combined .239/.331/.390 line at the plate, good for 6th/4th/6th amongst National League teams.

The Nats’ .282 BABIP is tied for 12th in the NL. Their .317 wOBA is tied for fourth. Their 98 wRC+ on the season are tied for sixth in the so-called senior circuit.

With runners in scoring position? Washington has a .222/.353/.379 line, which has them ranked 13th/7th/10th among NL teams. Their .245 BABIP with RISP is 13th of 15 National League teams, their .311 wOBA is tied for 11th, and their 93 wRC+ w/RISP are ranked 10th.

First-year skipper Davey Martinez has talked often about waiting for the big hits to come and turn things around for the Nationals’ offense, and the hope that once the lineup’s at least a little more like it was expected to be this Spring, things will work out, and he told them this weekend, during a post game conversation following a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, that things will come around if they keep doing what they’re doing.

“I told them all, ‘Hey, you guys are playing with heart. I love it,’” Martinez said. “‘And you guys are pulling for each other, and this thing will change, just let’s believe in ourselves and keep going, keep fighting, that’s all I ask you guys to do. Keep fighting. Keep believing.’”

Asked for his thoughts on the Nationals’ rough start, and how the first-year skipper is doing, Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell he’s happy with what he’s seen from Martinez through the first month-plus.

“He’s had a great start as a manager,” Rizzo said. “I like the way he’s handling this rough start. He’s calm, cool and collected. But he shows emotions, too.”

Will Martinez get any of his injured players back during this week’s four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates?

HERE’S THE LINEUP FOR TONIGHT’S SERIES OPENER WITH THE PIRATES: