WASHINGTON -- Adam Eaton's surgically repaired left knee has been sore for most of the past week, limiting him to just one start in the past four games. He was out of the starting lineup once again Friday night against the Mets, but manager Dave Martinez did not sound concerned about Eaton. He was just exercising caution.
"He said it's just stiff," Martinez said. "I told him to take a couple days off, and at this point, I don't want him re-injuring anything."
Washington had been pleased with how far along Eaton's recovery from knee and ankle injuries has come lately. He had been playing regularly in September, including both games of a doubleheader on Sept. 11 against the Phillies, no longer needing the cautious schedule necessary early in the season.
Eaton is still in his first season back from a torn ACL last April, and an ankle injury leftover from that operation has limited him to 89 games so far this season. When he has been in the lineup, he's been an effective hitter, batting .294/.383/.405.
Eaton's recent absence from the lineup has paved the way for Victor Robles, the club's No.1 prospect and MLB Pipeline's fifth-ranked prospect overall, to start the past few games in center field. Robles entered Friday's game 6-for-30 at the plate with a homer and two RBIs during his limited action this year, but this week has given Martinez his first chance to see Robles play on a consistent basis every day.

"Just watch him play baseball all the way around," Martinez said. "Just watch him play defense, watch him move around, watch him run the bases. Just all around. He's a good athlete. So it's nice to see him go out there, play a few days in a row and see what he can do."