The bullpen woes of the Nationals are well documented, with an ERA of 6.01 by relievers through Monday.
But Washington, with the trade deadline Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST, could be on the prowl for starting pitchers as well, after a thrashing of 11-8 by the first-place Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.
Pitcher Erick Fedde (1-2), in his ninth start of the season, gave up nine runs on nine hits — including two homers — in just 3 2/3 innings against the Braves.
Josh Donaldson crushed a three-run homer in fourth and Adam Duvall later added a solo shot to make it 9-0 and send Fedde to the showers. Duvall hit his second homer in the sixth off reliever Javy Guerra for an 11-1 lead.
Fedde’s poor outing came one day after ace right-hander Max Scherzer went on the 10-day injured list. The Nationals could muster little offense against Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (6-7), who allowed just two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Brian Dozier had an RBI single for the Nationals and Trea Turner hit a solo homer in the seventh to make it 11-2. Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer in the eighth to make it 11-5, and Juan Soto made it 11-7 with two-run shot in ninth. Brian Dozier had an RBI single in the ninth to trim the lead to 11-8.
The Braves (63-45) are now 5 ½ games ahead of the Nationals (57-50), who have lost four of the last six.
Another concern for Washington is first baseman Matt Adams, who was hit by a pitch on the foot Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He did not start for the second game in a row Tuesday. Ryan Zimmerman, another first baseman, is on the injured list with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
“He is doing better,” manager Dave Martinez said of Adams. “We don’t want to push it. He is feeling better than last night. He was pretty sore yesterday.”
Howie Kendrick made the start at first base again Tuesday for the Nationals.
The trade deadline could see changes with both the Nationals and Braves.
“Our veteran guys understand what transpires this time of year,” Martinez said. “We will know tomorrow.”
Infielder Cole Freeman (.306 hitter), a fourth-round pick of the Nationals in 2017 out of LSU, was pulled after the seventh inning with Single-A Potomac in its game Tuesday night in Woodbridge, Va, with the Salem Red Sox. The Nats could possibly be working on a trade that would include him for a veteran player, as general manager Mike Rizzo was seen with the director of player development, Mark Scialabba, earlier in the day in the Washington clubhouse.
The series finale will be Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. with Anibal Sanchez (6-6, 3.63) starting for the Nationals against All-Star right-hander Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.44) of the Braves. Sanchez has won his last six decisions.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.