Saturday morning thoughts

NEW YORK - Some Saturday morning thoughts before the Nationals and Mets resume their weekend series at Citi Field ...

* Davey Martinez opened the season with Victor Robles batting ninth because he liked the idea of using the rookie center fielder as a "second leadoff hitter," someone who could occasionally set the table for Adam Eaton and Trea Turner. Well, that plan may actually be working out too well so far. Robles has led off an inning eight times, and he's gone 5-for-8 with two doubles and two homers, including Thursday's blast off Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard.

Which raises a new question: With Turner likely sidelined at least a month with a broken finger, should Robles just start batting leadoff, with Eaton behind him in the No. 2 spot? It essentially would be the same lineup the Nationals have been using all along. It would just give Robles another at-bat in the first inning.

Martinez's rationale for sticking Robles in the nine-spot made sense on opening day. A fully healthy lineup needs to have Eaton and Turner at the top, and a rookie like Robles could have some pressure taken off him batting ninth. But with Turner out for a while, and with Robles starting to establish himself as a productive major league hitter (he owns an .896 OPS in 115 career plate appearances), it seems the time has come to make sure the rookie gets more plate appearances and not fewer.

* The No. 2 hitter in Turner's absence the last two games was Brian Dozier, who remains quite unproductive. Dozier is 2-for-22 with one walk and eight strikeouts to date. During Thursday's 0-for-4 performance, he never got the ball out of the infield and took some unsightly swings along the way.

Martinez thought moving Dozier up to the two-spot might allow him to see more fastballs. That may be true, but two games in it hasn't resulted in better at-bats. With Howie Kendrick off the injured list and ready to go, you would think Martinez would at least give the veteran utilityman a start in one of this weekend's games and give Dozier a chance to take a deep breath and start over.

* This probably goes without saying, but Justin Miller has become the top setup man for now. With Trevor Rosenthal a mess and Kyle Barraclough erratic as well, the Nationals have needed somebody to step up and take the eighth inning by the horns. Miller has done just that the last few days.

The right-hander retired the side with two strikeouts in the seventh inning of last Sunday's win over the Mets. He pitched two scoreless innings with two more strikeouts during Wednesday's win over the Phillies. And then he returned the next afternoon to record two key outs in the eighth inning (both via strikeout) of Thursday's win before Martinez turned to lefty Tony Sipp to face Robinson Canó.

Miller is a versatile reliever who was used in a variety of roles last season. Martinez likes his ability to go multiple innings. But right now the greatest need is the eighth inning. And until Rosenthal and Barraclough re-prove themselves pitching in lower-leverage spots, Miller is going to get the ball setting up closer Sean Doolittle.