The Nats didn't need to make deadline trades.
This team has a line-up deep enough to take injuries to Morse, Storen, Werth, Ramos, Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman / LaRoche ("only" out a couple of weeks). The Nats have had six major-league starters. The bull-pen is deep, and got better when HRod went out. Christian Garcia might be a great help, although he probably needs more work in the majors to get comfortable. Only relief worry is Burnett, who might not be recovered from a sore elbow.
In spite of the injuries, the Nats increased their lead while other teams scrambled to dump lazy or useless players -- Fillies and Marlins -- or traded to approach the Nats level.
The opponents are tough? Sure, and the Nats have to beat them: now and later.