For While it Lasts - Tracking the Nats Wild Card Chase

[Slateman]

We flew too close to the sun.

It was all just a dream

[blue911]

It was all just a dream

Points out why CJ needs to be moved.

[Slateman]

Points out why CJ needs to be moved.

Okay, soapbox time

We have the worst bullpen in baseball. It has allowed 193 runs. If this pen was simply not in the bottom third, if it "only" allowed 145 runs, we would have the fifth best run differential in baseball. Basically, if you gave this team the 2019 bullpen, we'd be a playoff team.

And this can be fixed by either spending money or spending prospects.

[Natsinpwc]

Okay, soapbox time

We have the worst bullpen in baseball. It has allowed 193 runs. If this pen was simply not in the bottom third, if it "only" allowed 145 runs, we would have the fifth best run differential in baseball. Basically, if you gave this team the 2019 bullpen, we'd be a playoff team.

And this can be fixed by either spending money or spending prospects.

Who you spend money on in June?

[Slateman]

Who you spend money on in June?

Could have spent money in the offseason. Can take on contracts from teams looking to bail out on them. Spend some of that prospect capital we have. The whole point of getting a Toboni was to improve the prospect pipeline. Trading Devin Fitz-Gerald, Seaver King, and a Luke Dickerson isn't going to cripple the team. But having a competent closer and two other relievers with ERAs under 5 would put us in the playoffs.

[imref]

Could have spent money in the offseason. Can take on contracts from teams looking to bail out on them. Spend some of that prospect capital we have. The whole point of getting a Toboni was to improve the prospect pipeline. Trading Devin Fitz-Gerald, Seaver King, and a Luke Dickerson isn't going to cripple the team. But having a competent closer and two other relievers with ERAs under 5 would put us in the playoffs.

Trading Ferrar to the Mariners really hurt this team this year.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Trading Ferrar to the Mariners really hurt this team this year.

Badly

[JCA-CrystalCity]

On what planet are you living on where you think the penny pinchers who own this operation will "spend big"?

on planet sunshine. close to planet claire. Hey, Slate  gave them a choice - spend now  or sell. That's pretty kind.

I'll do  some more  sunshine - maybe the team is looking good enough going forward that buyers will   become interested in meeting the Lerner's price for the team.

[Slateman]

on planet sunshine. close to planet claire. Hey, Slate  gave them a choice - spend now  or sell. That's pretty kind.

I'll do  some more  sunshine - maybe the team is looking good enough going forward that buyers will   become interested in meeting the Lerner's price for the team.

You can spend prospects instead of money. Mason Miller fixes a lot of problems

[JCA-CrystalCity]

You can spend prospects instead of money. Mason Miller fixes a lot of problems

Chapman might be a little rich dollar-wise, but would cost far fewer prospects. That allows you to use some of the ones you save for a stater or maybe more relievers.

[Slateman]

https://wtop.com/sports-columns/2026/06/the-most-important-games-the-nationals-have-played-in-a-long-time-are-at-the-park-where-they-cant-win/

“This is when we find out whether the timeline starts in 2027 or whether it starts in 2028 and hell, maybe there’s a 5% chance it starts in 2026,” Nusbaum said. “These are the most important games the Nationals have played in a long time.”

[varoadking]

Points out why CJ needs to be moved.

This remains the top answer on the board...

[Slateman]

Chapman might be a little rich dollar-wise, but would cost far fewer prospects. That allows you to use some of the ones you save for a stater or maybe more relievers.

So that's another aspect to this. Do you want to give up less for just this year? Maybe, maybe not.

For instance, I think Sonny Gray or Michael Wacha could he had for a minimal prospect return. But they're both older and gone after this season or next season. On the other hand, Reid Detmers will cost more, but he will still be in his prime and under arbitration when Sykora, Susana, and Rosario are in the MLB rotation.

[aspenbubba]

It was all just a dream

More like a nightmare

[imref]

problem at this point is that other than the Rockies, most every team is still alive for a WC and won't be selling. The only pitcher on the Rockies that I can see that would benefit us is Antonio Senzatela (though i'm not adjusting for Denver effect).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Got help today from the Mets (beat Cards) and Marlins (beat D-backs) today. Cubs winning. Doyers get the Pirates again.

The standings before those results:

Cards      37-28  +3 (now 37-29)
Phillies     37-31  + 1.5
Padres     35-32   - - -
---------------------
Pirates      35-33  - 0.5
D-backs    34-33   -1  (now 34-34)
Nats         35-34    -1
Cubs         34-34   -1.5
Marlins      33-35   -2.5 (now  34-35)
Reds          32-35  -3

[Natsinpwc]

You can tell that the team has not been in contention for years when we are tracking the wild card race in early June.   

Just win games and things will work out. 

[Natsinpwc]

problem at this point is that other than the Rockies, most every team is still alive for a WC and won't be selling. The only pitcher on the Rockies that I can see that would benefit us is Antonio Senzatela (though i'm not adjusting for Denver effect).

The Giants are likely out of it also although they have to pretend for their fan base that they have a chance for a while.  Robbie Ray?

Don't forget the AL.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The Giants are likely out of it also although they have to pretend for their fan base that they have a chance for a while.  Robbie Ray?

Don't forget the AL.

Angels have some pitching

[varoadking]

Got help today from the Mets (beat Cards) and Marlins (beat D-backs) today. Cubs winning. Doyers get the Pirates again.

The standings before those results:

Cards      37-28  +3 (now 37-29)
Phillies     37-31  + 1.5
Padres     35-32   - - -
---------------------
Pirates      35-33  - 0.5
D-backs    34-33   -1  (now 34-34)
Nats         35-34    -1
Cubs         34-34   -1.5
Marlins      33-35   -2.5 (now  34-35)
Reds          32-35  -3

This math just ain't mathin' for me... 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

This math just ain't mathin' for me... 

The records were as of this AM. The parentheticals updated records for results from today that  I knew about at the time of the post.

Cubs ended  up  winning today over Colorado so they are 35-34, tied with the Nats, and the Pirates are losing to the Doyers in the 6th inning.

[Slateman]

Two trades went down today. I dont need a big one, but there has to be someone that has a reliever with an ERA under 4.50 that is willing to trade right now.

[welch]

Still a game above .500.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nats sit in a 3 way tie with the Pirates and Cubs at 35-34, 1 game back of the 35-32 Padres for the last wild card spot and a half game ahead of the 34-34 D-backs.

[imref]

Gotta win the series vs the Mariners. No preview from Zuck yet, but here's one from a Mariner's blog:

https://www.lookoutlanding.com/seattle-mariners-game-information/144809/series-preview-seattle-mariners-vs-washington-nationals-june-2026

After a strong start to their series in Baltimore, the Mariners had to settle for a split series after two lackluster efforts on Wednesday and Thursday. That eight-game win streak a week ago is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Seattle’s overall place in the standings. It feels like the team has slipped back into the listless play that defined a lot of the first two months of the season. Maybe it’s just the fatigue of a long East Coast road trip. Whatever it is, they’ll wrap up the trip with a three-game set in Washington DC.

The rest of the post heaps praise on the Nats.

Here's the MLB.com preview:
https://www.mlb.com/stories/game-preview/822726

Tonight's starter for Seattle has been lights-out since coming off the IL.