Over their last 13 games, Nationals starters own a 2.99 ERA. They're holding opponents to a .209 batting average and .671 OPS. They've struck out 89 batters in 75 1/3 innings. That's very good.

The Nationals have scored an average of 4.1 runs per game during this 13-game stretch, and even that number is a bit misleading because they've scored 40 of their 53 runs in only five games. (Not coincidentally, those are the five wins in the last 13 games.)

That means the Nationals have scored only 13 runs in their last eight losses. That's a problem.

A few regulars are struggling. Adam Eaton, after a torrid August, is batting .188 with a .579 OPS in September. Ryan Zimmerman, aside from a handful of big extra-base hits, isn't doing much else. He's batting .212 this month.

The team misses Kurt Suzuki. As admirable a job as Yan Gomes has done taking over nearly everyday duties behind the plate, Suzuki's absence the last two weeks with an elbow injury has been noticeable, making the bottom half of the lineup a lot less imposing than it was not long ago.

And the bench has turned downright impotent. Gerardo Parra is 1-for-21 this month, continuing a disturbing and long-term slump that has made his earlier season heroics seem like a distant memory. Matt Adams was already mired in a major funk before spraining his left shoulder. Brian Dozier is 2-for-13 this month and seeing very little playing time.

Put that all together and throw in some legitimately bad luck on well-struck balls - Asdrúbal Cabrera should've had a three-run homer late in Wednesday's game but was robbed by Dexter Fowler on a brilliant play at the right field fence - and this what you end up with.

SS and CF were usually the athletes.     They helped a third and second baseman out  ....   alot.           Nah, my bunt wasn't Scherzeresque.    It was more a matter of the time it took me to get to first base at 90, instead of 60 feet.

The Nationals outfield has the best defense in baseball. According to outs above average. And they are first by a wide margin. In fact, it’s the largest gap between first and second place since they have been measuring (albeit only 4 years). 

https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-outfield-defense-has-become-a-strength

I’m still waiting for Turner to steal a base. It’s been weeks since Tuesday. Turner and Eaton bring nothing to the top of the lineup.