Robles, Glover begin rehab with GCL Nats (Nats roll 18-4)

The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals welcomed outfielder Victor Robles and reliever Koda Glover today. Glover started in their 5-2 loss to the GCL Astros, logging one inning, allowing no hits and no runs, with one walk and two strikeouts. He faced four batters. Robles played center field and went 0-for-2 with one strikeout.

The appearances marked the first game for Glover since last June 10. Robles has not played since early April with Triple-A Syracuse. Both players are on the 60-day disabled list.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said both players looked good, with Glover a little bit further along in his rehab from right shoulder tendinitis. Robles has been out since mid-April with an elbow injury.

President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo said one reason why Glover is a bit further along in his rehab is because rehabbing a reliever is different than it is for a field player, as they get him to progress his total innings and pitches per outing, rather than multiple innings in the same game.

"He started his rehab assignment, so that's always a positive thing," Rizzo said. "He is a reliever, so it's easier to build up his innings before we get him off the rehab assignment."

"Koda's actually progressing well, so he's still got time," said Martinez. "You know, he just started actually facing hitters live in a game. We will just keep progressing and see how he feels. I don't think he's going to throw back-to-back days here relatively soon, but at least he's pitching. Right now, it's like him going through spring training again, that's the way I look at it. So, hopefully, he's ready. We need him."

Robles played in just four games for Triple-A Syracuse before injuring his elbow on a diving catch attempt in center field at Rochester. Martinez was happy to get the reports that Robles is back playing baseball.

"Victor, he just started playing, so that's good to see that he's back on the field," Martinez said.

Rizzo said Robles is completely healthy and is not wearing a brace or anything else to protect the elbow. The young outfielder got two at-bats today before being replaced by Jonathan Quintana in center field.

"He's on a rehab assignment, so obviously we are going to take our time with him and go slow," Rizzo said. "He's under no restrictions, so as long as he feels good and can participate, we'd like to give him as many reps as we can. He's on a rehab assignment because he's healthy and ready to go."

Robles is ranked No. 5 in MLB.com list of baseball prospects. Glover has appeared in 42 combined games with the Nats in 2016 and 2017.

Update: In the second inning facing Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen, Bryce Harper singled and Mark Reynolds followed with another homer. He has now homered on consecutive pitches dating to Friday night's walk-off winner. Reynolds has nine homers on the season.

Max Scherzer has thrown three scoreless innings, allowing only a leadoff single to Derek Dietrich.

Mid-third, the Nats lead the Marlins 2-0.

Update II: Starlin Castro and J.T. Realmuto hit back-to-back homers to left field off of Scherzer in the fourth. Scherzer recorded a two strikeouts in a row to end the inning.

Mid-fourth, the Nats and the Marlins are tied 2-2.

Update III: Harper singled with one out in the fourth. Reynolds followed with a double. Harper raced around third to score standing up, throwing off his batting helmet in the process (not recommended). Reynolds is 2-for-2 with a double, homer and three RBIs. Harper is 2-for-2.

After four in D.C., the Nats lead the Marlins 3-2.

Update IV: In the fifth, JT Riddle led off with a triple. Miguel Rojas sliced a single into right field to score Riddle.

Mid-fifth, the Nats and the Marlins are tied 3-3.

Update V: The scoreboard lit up in the fifth for the Nats, who scored a season-high seven runs. Anthony Rendon had a two-run single, Reynolds a two-run single and Pedro Severino a three-run homer in the onslaught, which forced Chen to exit. Reynolds' five RBIs match a career high, which he has accomplished six times, the last time on June 6, 2017. The Nats pound out six hits in the frame. Reynolds is a triple short of hitting for the cycle. The Nats have scored 27 runs in 23 innings so far in this series.

After five innings, the Nats lead the Marlins 10-3.

Update VI: Reynolds hit another homer in the sixth, this time a three-run jack. He has eight RBIs on the night, a new career high. He has his in five consecutive at-bats. Harper has three hits. This is the first time since 2012 that a team has had a pair of eight-RBI games in a season. Trea Turner had eight RBIs on Thursday night in the 14-12 win. The Texas Rangers pulled off the feat in 2012 with Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton.

Mid-seventh, the Nats lead the Marlins 13-4.

Update V: The Nats scored five more runs in the seventh. Juan Soto with a two-run double, Spencer Keiboom a sacrifice fly RBI to center field and Reynolds a two-run single. Reynolds 10 RBIs is a new career-high, amtching Rendon for the Nationals record since 2005. He is 6-for-6 with three homers and 11 RBIs since last night's walk-off winner.

After seven innings, the Nats lead the Marlins 18-4.

Update VI: Shawn Kelley threw two shutout innings to finish off an 18-4 victory, the Nats' third win in a row. Scherzer (11-5) went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 109 pitches, 78 for strikes.

The 18 runs are a season high. It is the first win streak of three games or more since the Nationals won six in a row frm May 25-30.