The Nationals added an ugly entry to the record book Tuesday night, and the way it unfolded made the loss sting even more.
Washington took a 4-1 lead into the eighth inning against San Diego, only to watch the game unravel almost immediately. Jared Simpson was handed the ball to work through the bottom of the Padres’ order, but he issued three straight walks.
Erik Tolman took over and gave up a sacrifice fly and then a game-tying single. Later in the inning, Luis Campusano delivered the decisive blow with an RBI single that put San Diego in front for good.
The blown save was the Nationals’ 38th of the season, setting a franchise record. The Padres, meanwhile, kept themselves right in the thick of the NL Wild Card race and stayed a game behind the Diamondbacks, who beat the Royals in 11 innings.
Chicago’s bullpen situation is getting shaky in a hurry, too. Jacob Webb had been one of the Cubs’ more reliable late-inning arms while the team has worked through a wave of injuries, but his recent stretch has turned rough.
Against the Brewers, Webb blew his third straight save chance. He retired the first two hitters he faced, then allowed a single to Christian Yelich and a game-tying home run to Jackson Chourio.
The Cubs went on to lose in 10 innings.
After the game, Craig Counsell didn’t have much mystery to offer about the state of the bullpen. “ We have eight guys down there,” he said (h/t Jesse Rogers of ESPN).
“ Those are the guys we’re going to rely on. We have to figure it out.”
There was better news in Atlanta, where Reynaldo Lopez is expected to return from the 15-day IL and start Wednesday against the Rays. Lopez has been sidelined for about six weeks because of knee inflammation, but his timing lines up well for the Braves after Bryce Elder went down with a knee injury of his own.
Lopez has handled a split role this season and posted a 3.64 ERA over 71 2/3 innings. He also threw 93 pitches in his final rehab start, so he should be ready for a normal workload when he gets back on the mound.
In Other News...
Nationals Fans Should Notice Which Harrisburg Prospects Just Took Over
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The one score that stands out even more for Nationals fans is Josh Randalls latest step forward, with the right-hander working deep into the game and keeping New Hampshire off the board while picking up his fifth win. Fredericksburg had a tougher night in a 4-2 loss to Fayetteville, though Noah Millikan gave the club a solid four-inning effort before Tony Neubeck took the loss, a contrast that only sharpens the focus on which arms and bats are separating themselves in the system. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Road Trip Raised New Questions About Who Still Looks Legit
A rough West Coast trip only sharpened the focus on what the Nationals can actually take forward from this stretch. The losses piled up, the pitching staff was tagged for 35 runs across the series, and manager Blake Butera even got tossed in San Diego as the frustration spilled over. Yet not everything looked equally bleak. Dylan Crews continued to show signs of being part of the answer, and Cade Cavalli gave the rotation a much-needed lift with a strong start against the Dodgers.
The harder question is which parts of the lineup and staff are still believable over the long haul. CJ Abrams went through a rough spell at the plate, and the broader slump left Washington sorting through more uncertainty than reassurance. Crews has started to separate himself as one of the few bright spots, while Cavallis outing offered a reminder that there is at least some starting pitching to build around. For a club still trying to find traction, the road trip made it clear that the search for dependable pieces is far from over. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Crews Is Giving Nationals Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Dylan Crews has started to settle in since rejoining the Nationals in May, and the early signs are the kind Washington has been waiting for from one of its top young talents. The 2023 second-round pick has shown real progress at the plate, with his overall production trending upward and his ability to drive the ball looking more like what the organization envisioned when it brought him in.
Crews is not the only one benefiting from the work being done behind the scenes. Under Matt Borgschulte, the Nationals offensive coaching staff has helped several players make measurable gains this season, including Jacob Young, and the focus has been on helping hitters clean up their swings and find better contact. For a club trying to build something more sustainable, the encouraging part is not just that Crews is improving, but that the process around him appears to be working too. [Read more 🡒]