Nationals' Woes Continue as Skid Reaches Four Games

Washington's Playoff Hopes Dwindling after Dismal Loss

Team's Late-Season Struggles Raise Concerns

The Washington Nationals' playoff hopes are hanging by a thread after the team suffered its fourth consecutive loss on Wednesday night. The Nationals fell 5-3 to the Chicago Cubs, marking their seventh defeat in their last 10 games.

The Nationals entered the season with high expectations, having won the World Series in 2019. However, injuries and poor play have plagued the team all season long. The Nationals are now 23-34, last in the NL East and 10 games back of the first-place New York Mets.

The Nationals' offense has been particularly disappointing this season. The team is averaging just 3.8 runs per game, last in the NL. Star outfielder Juan Soto is having a down year, batting just .230 with six home runs.

The Nationals' pitching staff has also struggled. The team's starters have a combined ERA of 5.02, 13th in the NL. The bullpen has been even worse, with a combined ERA of 6.12.

The Nationals' recent slide has put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The team is now 5.5 games back of the second wild-card spot. With just 25 games remaining in the regular season, the Nationals need to turn things around quickly if they want to have any chance of reaching the postseason.