Victor Robles lost his grip on being the Washington Nationals center fielder when he was benched last season. The Nats are prepared to give him every chance to reclaim it. But one game into the season, manager Davey Martinez is forced to look at other options.
The Nationals lineup for Friday’s game against the New York Mets doesn’t have Robles in the lineup. Washington lost Thursday’s Opening Day contest 5-1, as the bottom of the order struggled to score.
Instead of Victor Robles being in center-field, Dee Strange-Gordon will man center and bat ninth. Robles isn’t the only young outfielder out of the lineup. The man who replaced him last season at center, Lane Thomas is also on the bench for Game 2.
Thomas started Thursday at left field. But Friday it will be Yadiel Hernandez. Just like Strange-Gordon did Robles, Hernandez will take Thomas’ spot in the order at six.
When asked about the switch, Martinez replied that the team needed a boost in offense facing former Nats ace Max Scherzer.
Martinez stressed “we have to score.”
Last year was the worst of Robles’ early career, as hit a mere .203 at the plate. This spring his batted .200 in 20 at-bats. While Thomas not in the lineup, more onus wil be on Robles given his struggles over the previous two seasons.
The Nationals have a formidable top of the lineup one through five with Caesar Hernandez, Juan Soto, Nelson Cruz, Josh Bell and Keibert Ruiz. The questions are with the order six through nine.
In Game 1, the bottom of the lineup went a combined 1-for-13 with six strikeouts. The season just started, so Martinez has time to tinker wit the lineup and look for some pop to support the top-5 batters.
