Victor Robles was sick, and not hitting well, and newly-acquired outfielder Lane Thomas was healthy, and swinging it, so Davey Martinez gave Thomas, acquired from St. Louis at last month’s trade deadline in return for Jon Lester, four-straight starts in center field this week, while noting that Robles would be back in there sometime soon.
Speaking shortly after Washington’s lineup for their series finale with the Miami Marlins in loanDepot park was posted on Thursday afternoon, with Robles back up top, leading off for the Nationals, Martinez explained why he decided to put the 24-year-old outfielder back in there.