Robles likely to return Sunday after minor back injury

Victor Robles appears to be fine after departing Friday night's game with back tightness and should return to the Nationals lineup Sunday afternoon.

Robles, who had to come out of the Nats' 10-9 exhibition win over the Astros in the fifth inning after coming up awkward on a throw from center field to the plate, told manager Davey Martinez today he "feels fine." The 23-year-old was already scheduled to have tonight off, so he'll now prepare to play Sunday against the Mets.

"Hopefully, we'll get him back out there tomorrow," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "He's going to take some swings and go through his regular routine. But he said he felt fine."

Robles hurt himself after fielding Jose Altuve's single to center in the bottom of the fifth Friday at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. He slipped a bit as he wound up to throw to the plate, and once the play was completed, he was visited by Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard.

Robles walked off the field under his own power and expressed to Martinez that he didn't believe he was seriously injured. His manager had a quip ready for him.

"I don't like running out there that far," Martinez said. "I told him: 'Try not to get hurt out there, 'cause that's a long run for me to center field right now.'"

All jokes aside, Robles does have a tendency to suffer from these minor ailments, perhaps more than most players. His aggressive style of play in the field and on the bases, may contribute to that, but Martinez doesn't want the young player thinking too much about that.

"It's funny, because as a young player you tend to just have all this energy. And he's one of those guys who just plays full out," Martinez said. "If I was to tell him to take it easy or whatever, not letting him play the way he's capable of playing or wants to play, that's when, typically, guys tend to do something they're not supposed to do. For him, I let him go out there and play."

Robles has enjoyed an impressive spring at the plate. Through 12 games, he's batting .313 (10-for-32) with three doubles, three homers, four RBIs, four walks and four stolen bases. Though he has struck out 12 times, Robles' .405 on-base percentage - and his approach as a leadoff hitter - suggests he may be ready to take over the top spot in the Nationals lineup come opening night.

* Martinez planned to meet with Stephen Strasburg and pitching coach Jim Hickey later today to map out a throwing schedule for the right-hander, but Strasburg's performance during a simulated game Friday and recovery from it the day after suggest he'll be good to start the season as planned.

Strasburg, who strained his left calf delivering a third-inning pitch last Sunday, threw five innings and 74 pitches Friday in the simulated game against teammates and reported no problems.

The right-hander could potentially make two more Grapefruit League starts (March 24 and 29 vs. Houston) and then start the Nationals' second game of the season (April 3 vs. the Mets), but the club could also decide to stretch out that process, give him three more tune-ups (including another simulated game) and have him open the season in a lower spot in the rotation.

"I heard through the grapevine he felt good today," Martinez said. "Legs felt good. I thought maybe he'd feel a little heavy. But he felt good. So I'm going to sit down with him and Hickey and map out his next two, three starts. I want to talk to him first before we decide on anything."