WASHINGTON -- The Nationals are hoping another day of treatment will help Victor Robles avoid missing a significant amount of time.

An MRI taken Friday on the center fielder revealed a right ankle sprain, manager Dave Martinez said Saturday afternoon. Robles sustained the injury while running the bases on Wednesday in Chicago.

“He’s getting a little better every day,” Martinez said. “If we can get him over that hump today, maybe we can miss that IL.”

Robles, who hit .412 (7-for-17) with four RBIs in his last six games, is listed as day to day. He has been receiving “constant” treatment during games.

“He looked a little better yesterday after the game as far as walking-wise,” Martinez said. “But still, it’s one of those things when you sprain your ankle, you never know how long it’s going to take.”

Martinez called on utility man Josh Harrison to start in center field on Saturday against the Orioles. Harrison has been the starting second baseman this season, but his defensive versatility allows the Nats to utilize him around the field.

“He’s a guy that I know I can put him anywhere because he works at it,” Martinez said. “I’m very comfortable with him out there.”

Harrison's presence in the lineup paid off in a big way, as he launched his first career grand slam in the third inning en route to the Nats' 12-9 victory.

Bell gets assist from the crowd
Six years into his Major League career, first baseman Josh Bell still is experiencing firsts on the field. In a highlight-reel worthy moment, Bell recorded his first assist to the plate on an outfield relay during the sixth inning on Friday against the Orioles.

When Austin Hays tried to score from first on Trey Mancini’s double to right field, Juan Soto actually overthrew Harrison, the cutoff man. But Bell was there to nab the ball, and he hurled the relay throw to Yan Gomes at home plate to catch a diving Hays.

“I didn’t even see the runner going,” Bell said. “It was more like the crowd kind of told me that he was going because everyone was like, ‘Ahhh!’ So I heard that, I look home, Yan is right there ready to go, so I made the play.”

The stellar defensive play preserved the Nationals’ 2-0 lead and helped secure the 4-2 victory for Stephen Strasburg in his return from the injured list.

“You’ve got to keep runs off the board to win the games,” Bell said. “Especially the way Stephen [Strasburg] was pitching out there, it was fun. I haven’t made a play like that in my career thus far. So that was first, hopefully of many cool plays like that. It was definitely a highlight for me tonight.”