WASHINGTON -- The Nationals own the best record in the National League, and their bullpen has been their only Achilles' heel, an issue manager Dusty Baker said everyone involved is going crazy trying to solve.
Nationals relievers entered Monday with the third-worst ERA (5.33) and third-worst FIP (4.92) in the Majors. In Sunday's doubleheader against the Phillies, they could not hold a two-run lead in the ninth inning in an eventual 4-3 loss in the first game, and then gave back another late lead in the eighth inning of the nightcap before Michael Taylor's two-run homer led the Nats to a 6-5 victory.