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Washington Nationals: Three Reasons For Optimism Despite The Slow Start

By Max Rayman

Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Juan Soto #22 after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Juan Soto #22 after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 31, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-6. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Washington Nationals
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves flies out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on October 18, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The rest of the NL East has been just as bad

No one in the NL East has yet to seize the opportunity of the division’s struggles as a whole. After winning the NL East three years in a row, Atlanta has become stagnant. Ronald Acuna Jr. is playing out of his mind, but the majority of his offense is holding him back. Injuries and inconsistencies to the starting rotation haven’t helped.

Philadelphia has lost seven of their last ten and have a -15 run differential. Miami is still a few years away from being a serious threat.

New York may be in first, but they are basically running a Triple-A team due to their plethora of injuries. Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom, Michael Conforto, Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco, Brandon Nimmo, and Taijuan Walker are all on the IL. With that much talent sidelined, it is nearly impossible to stay atop the division.

Even with all of Washington’s struggles, they are only 2.5 games back of the Mets. With no one in the division taking advantage, Washington is still in the thick of it. Stephen Strasburg recently returned from the IL, while Daniel Hudson is performing at an elite level. The division’s struggles, mixed in with Washington on the verge of finally clicking bodes well for the team’s future.

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