Eaton went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs in a 4-3 loss to the Pirates on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

After starting the weekend series 0-for-5, Eaton went 5-for-9 (.555) in the final two games. He also hit his first homer Saturday and then swiped his third base of the season Sunday. Eaton only has three extra-base hits, but the hot weekend raised his batting average to .300. He also has five RBI and 10 runs to go with his three steals in 14 games this season.

Eaton went 3-for-4 with a solo homer in a 3-2 victory against the Pirates on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

For the second time in the last three contests, Eaton posted a three-hit game. He had an 0-for-5 game in between, but Eaton has still raised his average over the last few days. On Saturday, he also hit his first homer of the year. He is batting .286 with three extra-base hits, five RBI, eight runs and two steals in 13 games this season.

Eaton went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran outfielder has had a quick start at the top of the Nats' batting order, going 6-for-20 with a .391 OBP thanks to a walk and two HBP. Wednesday's steal was his first, and it's not yet clear whether the permanent green light Trea Turner (finger) was getting also applies to Eaton -- his 69.7 percent career success rate on steals isn't exceptional, and his career high in stolen bases for a season is only 18. With Turner on the shelf for a while, though, the club will need to lean more heavily on Eaton to set the table for the likes of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto.

Eaton went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Sunday's win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran outfielder has had a solid start to the year as the Nats' leadoff man, reaching base six times (four singles and two HBP) in three games for a .429 OBP. Eaton only played 118 contests through his first two campaigns in Washington, but if he can stay healthy in 2019 he's positioned for a very productive season.

Manager Dave Martinez said Saturday that Eaton will serve as the Nationals' leadoff hitter, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Eaton being put into the leadoff role makes sense for the Nationals, as he has a .394 on-base percentage in his two years with the team. The 30-year-old should be a good source of runs at the top of the lineup, however he has been limited to only 118 games during his two seasons in Washington as his season-long health remains a concern.

Eaton went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Hitting leadoff against right-hander Dan Straily, Eaton pushed his spring slash line up to .343/.500/.743, with eight of his 12 hits (five doubles, three homers) going for extra bases. Health is always the biggest concern with the 30-year-old -- he's played only 118 games in two seasons since joining the Nats -- but when he's in the lineup, Eaton should be a prime source of runs while supplying solid numbers in other categories.

Eaton went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

He set the tone by leading things off with his third homer of the spring -- one of seven jacks by Nats hitters on the day. The 30-year-old now sports a .318/.531/.818 slash line through 32 plate appearances with a remarkable 9:5 BB:K, and with Michael Taylor (knee/hip) out of action for the foreseeable future, there's no longer a serious threat on the roster to Eaton's playing time in right field.

Eaton could lose out on playing time to Michael Taylor this season, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Nationals are going to experiment with Victor Robles in right field in the coming days in preparation for games this season when Taylor will get the start in center field. This makes sense on a couple levels. First, Taylor has had an impressive spring and, in manager Dave Martinez's estimation, is the best defensive center fielder on the roster. Second, Eaton has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, so giving him semi-regular rest days may be in everyone's best interest. Taylor, who hits from the right side, has an 87 career wRC+ against lefties and a 77 career wRC+ against righties, so it's possible he and Eaton, who hits from the left side, settle into a regular platoon.

Eaton went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, two walks and two runs scored Thursday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Eaton slotted into the No. 2 spot in the lineup and clubbed a solo homer in the third inning to give Washington a 2-0 cushion. He's batting .417 with a home run, four RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base so far this spring.

Nats manager Dave Martinez said that Eaton is currently the team's primary leadoff hitter, Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

When he was healthy in 2018, Eaton was used nearly exclusively atop the Washington lineup as he made 73 of his 76 starts from the top spot in the batting order. While injuries have derailed him in each of his first two seasons with the Nats, Eaton has carried OBP marks of .393 and .394 in those campaigns, while continuing to offer a nice mix of occasional pop and speed on the basepaths. With Juan Soto and Victor Robles penciled in as regulars in the outfield mix, Eaton might land on the large side of a platoon arrangement with Michael Taylor.