Forget the slow start and the litany of injuries, Dave Martinez’s Nationals have looked lately like the postseason contenders everyone expected, on pace to win 96 games and surging to first place — albeit briefly — over the Atlanta Braves as the first third of the season ended.
Losing three of four in Atlanta over the weekend has them again chasing the Braves in the National League East. But with some of their injured stars trickling back into the lineup, the Nationals (33-25) are poised to make a push for a third straight pennant.
Whether the team has the right pieces in the right places to make that push is the big question facing Martinez and team executives in the coming weeks, ahead of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Nationals Park on July 17.
Harper and the batting order
Right fielder Bryce Harper spent the first two months of the season batting in several spots, including leadoff, second and now third. He is hitting just .232 – not a very good mark for a leadoff hitter. Harper entered this season with a career average of .285.
But he has 18 homers and 40 RBI, putting him on pace for nearly 50 homers and 115 RBI. Those are impressive numbers for a No. 3 hitter, a spot where Harper may remain depending on the availability of injured first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
Trade for a catcher?
With the hamstring injury to catcher Matt Wieters, who will miss a lot of time, Pedro Severino has been thrust into the starting role with rookie Spencer Kieboom as the backup.
Severino began this season as the backup and served in that role in a limited basis in the past. He was always seen as an offensive threat from the right side, but his average has fallen to .218 with a slugging mark of .282 — which is terrible. He has no homers in 110 at-bats.
The Nationals were linked to Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto last winter. Could those trade talks warm up again?
Trade for a second baseman?
While on the topic, what about a trade for Marlins second baseman Starlin Castro, who is hitting .288? Perhaps a package deal with Realmuto?
That was mentioned in a report last week in USA Today about possible trade targets of various players.
And that report came before a scout told The Washington Post recently that Daniel Murphy, the Nationals’ second baseman in 2016 and 2017, does not appear to be ready for the Nationals in lieu of his minor league rehab appearances last week with Double-A Harrisburg. The scout said Murphy was “gimpy” and “struggling to move laterally,” which is hardly good news.
Murphy had knee surgery in October and has not played for the Nationals this season. Wilmer Difo is a solid defender with much more range than Murphy. He is hitting .245 with an on-base average of .319 and just two steals. Murphy hit .347 and .322 in his first two years with the Nationals.
Perhaps the Nationals feel they could make an upgrade and get more offense at second. Washington is hitting .234 as a team — which ranks 11th in the league.
“We know we can do better,” shortstop Trea Turner told reporters in Atlanta. “It’s just a matter of putting those balls in the gaps or places where those guys aren’t.”
The status of Soto
Adam Eaton, the starting left fielder on Opening Day, appears closer to joining the Nationals. He went on the disabled list in April with a leg injury.
What does the team do with Juan Soto, 19, who has been on fire as an everyday left fielder?
Do they send him back to the minors, have him play center field instead of Michael A. Taylor (.204) or keep him in the majors and rotate with Eaton and Taylor?
Perhaps the latter may be the best option. Soto is hitting .326 and with a .522 slugging mark — both numbers are more than 100 points higher than the team average.
Nationals may need fifth starter
Jeremy Hellickson, the team’s No. 5 starter for several weeks, left the game in the first inning Sunday in Atlanta with a hamstring injury.
After an off day Monday, the Nationals begin a two-game series at home Tuesday against Tampa Bay, then are off again Thursday, June 11 and June 14 before playing eight days in row starting June 18.
They could use Jefry Rodriguez, who came on in relief of Hellickson on Sunday and pitched well in his first big league game. Another candidate is Erick Fedde, who made three starts last season and made a spot start last month.
It’s unlikely the Nationals would make a trade for a No. 5 starter since they have other options in the minors. They include Triple-A pitchers Austin Voth (3-3, 5.06) and Tommy Milone (3-4, 5.82) and Double-A starter Luis Reyes (4-6, 5.71).
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