With just days until the trade deadline, the Washington Nationals now enter a pivotal four-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night
With a chance at maintaining momentum within reach on Wednesday afternoon, the Washington Nationals dropped yet another one-run game, dropping to 13-16 this season in those situations, after the Toronto Blue Jays scored three runs in the eighth inning that proved to be too much.
It adds complications for a Nationals team still on the outside looking in on the playoff race, yet it's another untimely loss at an inopportune time.
With just four days until the trade deadline, what the Nationals do -- and whether the Nationals do more -- remains a question mark.
Luis Garcia Jr. joined Foster Griffin as growing trade candidates once the trade deadline market picked up, though Brady House practicing at first base ahead of the series only added to the intrigue around whether the buzz on Garcia ultimately comes to fruition. Of course, CJ Abrams has remained a mainstay in trade rumors, but emphasis on rumors with growing reporting pointing to the Nationals retaining the star shortstop through the trade deadline. Similar to the offseason, Washington has consistently been viewed to be prioritizing a return haul that would blow the front office away.
Yet what other moves -- either incoming or outgoing -- are now magnified ahead of arguably the biggest series of the season when the Nationals travel to Atlanta to face the NL East-leading Braves.
Ahead of the four game series, Washington has just an 8.6% chance to clinch the wildcard and 9.1% chance to make the playoffs with both the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies dominating the current FanGraph projections. Will Washington turn to trading some of its attractive trade chips like Garcia or Griffin if the series ends in a second consecutive loss? Washington already made a move to add to both the short and long-term outlook of the roster after sending Curtis Mead, who is now on the injured list, to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Connelly Early, who president of baseball operations Paul Toboni previously noted he expects to pitch again in 2026.
Does Washington turn to make another similar move to add another pitcher, whether it be a rental or another piece for 2027 and 2028? The answer will be determined by the end of the weekend with Jake Irvin set to return from the injured list to make his first start in two months to kick off the series on Thursday night.
