The trade deadline in the major leagues is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and once again, it appears the Nationals need bullpen help.
In games entering Tuesday, the combined ERA of Washington relievers was 6.01 – the worst mark among 30 teams in the majors.
The Washington bullpen had given up 49 homers in just 316 innings. Despite those numbers, the team was 57-49 going into Tuesday’s game with first-place Atlanta and trailed the leader by 4 ½ games.
Players try to ignore the trade deadline.
“Everyone is focused on the guys we have in the clubhouse,” Nationals lefty reliever Matt Grace told The Washington Times on Tuesday.