If you would’ve told me on Opening Day that the San Diego Padres would have an identical record with the Washington Nationals on August 27, I would have laughed. I’m not laughing now though because that’s the truth. It’s the latest low point in a miserable Padres season.
Washington famously traded their superstar Juan Soto before last year’s trade deadline in what was another signal that they were in full rebuild mode. Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner were already off the roster before Soto was dealt.
So in other words, Washington was not expected to contend this year and they’re not.