Robles making an early case, Fedde throwing harder (Nats lose 2-1)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Victor Robles has played in all four games of the spring so far for the Nationals, and he's done something that made you pause and watch in all four games, further emphasizing his potential star power for this franchise.

Starting in center field and batting second today against the Braves, Robles has been up to his old tricks. He singled in the top of the first, then doubled in the top of the third before getting a bit aggressive on the bases and running into an out.

Overall, Robles is now 4-for-9 in Grapefruit League play, with two doubles, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base, giving the Nationals front office and coaching staff reason to ponder his future even more than they already were.

General manager Mike Rizzo has said Robles will play every day this season, whether in the majors or minors. If the Nationals' starting outfielders (Adam Eaton, Michael A. Taylor, Bryce Harper) are healthy, there doesn't appear to be a place for Robles on the opening day roster ... unless he plays so well that he forces his way in.

Rated as the organization's top prospect and a top 10 prospect across baseball by most publications, the 20-year-old Robles already gave the Nationals a taste of his talents last September. He's picked up right where he left off this spring.

Robles' two hits today both came off major league pitchers. He singled to left off Atlanta starter Julio Teheran in the top of the first, then doubled off reliever Arodys Vizcaino in the top of the second.

Robles did fall victim to the kind of mistake that has been all too prevalent for the Nationals early on this spring: running into an out on the bases. They've already had eight players do that in only 30 innings of Grapefruit League play, three times today.

Andrew Stevenson was thrown out trying to go first-to-third on a single to right. Matt Reynolds was thrown out trying to tag up and score on a fly ball to shallow right field. And then Robles was called out trying to advance to third on a ball in the dirt; he actually beat the throw but then overslid the bag.

The Nationals trail 1-0 in the fourth inning, the lone run of the game coming off starter Erick Fedde in the bottom of the second.

Fedde allowed 5-of-10 batters to reach base against him, though two of the hits came on singles past a shifted infield. The Braves got to the young right-hander in the second inning when Ronald Acuna Jr. singled past a shifted Wilmer Difo at second base, then Kurt Suzuki doubled to left.

The most encouraging sign of Fedde's 38-pitch outing: His fastball velocity sat between 93-96 mph, up several notches from last August and September when the prospect was throwing in the mid-to-high 80s and was shut down with a forearm flexor strain.

Note: The Marjory Stoneman Douglas caps the Nationals wore for Friday's spring opener have now been autographed and authenticated and are up for auction. All proceeds go directly to the high school's official victims' fund. You can submit bids here.

Update: With six innings complete here, the Nationals now trail the Braves 2-0. Atlanta scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth vs. Enny Romero, who did it all in two-thirds of an inning: one hit, one walk, two strikeouts, two wild pitches. That prompted Davey Martinez to make his first mound visit and mid-inning pitching change of the spring (this is the Nats' fourth game).

Offensively, the lineup of bench players and prospects that made the long trip today has managed seven hits but has been unable to push any runners across the plate.

Update II: The Nationals lose to the Braves 2-1. Moisés Sierra homered in the top of the ninth, but that's all the Nats could do.