Nationals going through a funk before trade deadline: ‘Guys are frustrated’

ATLANTA — The Nationals’ offense hasn’t gotten going lately.

With Saturday’s 8-3 loss, they fell to 55-57, dropped their second consecutive series and are on a four-game losing streak.

Right-hander Miles Mikolas wasn’t his best, giving up four runs in six innings, but four runs aren’t too many for the offense to reasonably believe it’s out of the game. But Martín Pérez, who was named a late starter, controlled the Nationals’ hitters.

Perez mowed through the lineup with ease. He allowed one hit through seven scoreless innings, striking out six with two walks on 78 pitches. He induced a ton of weak contact and groundouts while keeping Washington off balance with his sinker and changeup.

“His changeup was really working tonight,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “It was hard to recognize that off the fastball, and he was throwing it to both lefties and righties.”

Butera said the club was notified around 35 minutes before the game about the Braves’ change in starting pitching. The Nationals scrambled to put together a new game plan for Pérez, who threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings — Brady House’s two-out single broke up the no-hitter.

Despite the logistical disadvantage, Butera said that wasn’t an excuse for how the Nationals performed. But the team picked an inopportune time for a skid, both with the trade deadline approaching and a wild-card spot at stake.

“Guys are frustrated,” Butera said. “This is the first time in a while that we’ve been in a spot where we’re chasing a playoff and these guys want to win, and I’m sure they feel that. They’re frustrated that we’re losing, and there’s nothing they want to do more than win some games right now.”

The hitters seem to be pressing given what’s at stake. Nights when the offense struggles usually portend a loss for the team, and that continued Saturday.

Once the game was out of reach in the eighth, the Nationals got going off Danny Young. Dylan Crews drove in a run on a two-out double. CJ Abrams followed with a two-run single.

Things got away from the Nationals in the seventh inning. Riley Cornelio loaded the bases with no outs before inducing a pop-up and striking out Ozzie Albies. But he allowed a run after walking Dominic Smith on four pitches, which also ended Cornelio’s outing. A wild pitch by Eddy Yean allowed the second run of the inning, pushing the Braves’ lead to six.

Atlanta got the big hit it needed when Austin Riley lined a two-out, two-run double. The difference in this series has been Atlanta’s proficiency with RISP. The Nationals have gone 2-for-22 with runners in scoring position over the three games.

A loss Sunday would tie their longest losing streak of the season. Resiliency has been this team’s calling card. It will need to summon that trait once more if it hopes to keep pace in the wild-card race.

Crews said the vibes are high despite the losing streak with a playoff spot at stake, noting the team is trying not to think too far in advance.

Has this team done enough to warrant president of baseball operations Paul Toboni giving up prospects for big league talent?

“Obviously, that’s out of our control,” Crews said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re here every single day preparing our tails off to go out there and perform. Whatever happens happens, and we can’t control that. We’re going to go out there and perform and do our deal on our end, and you know the front office and the guys up top are going to do their part.”

Monday is the last time the front office can add talent to augment this roster. The offense has shown that it can not only carry this team but it can be among the best in the sport.

The team hasn’t gotten enough production from its pitching staff, which is partly why it is two games below .500. But the team’s odds to make the playoffs aren’t great. According to FanGraphs, the Nationals have a 4.8% chance to clinch a wild-card spot.

Given the parity this season, those odds can increase with a good week. Less than 48 hours before the trade deadline, the Nationals’ situation remains unsettled. There’s no right time to have a losing stretch, but it is particularly difficult with the deadline approaching and the chances of buying or selling at stake.

“I think it’s just a really tough time to have have a tough week,” Butera said. “And, look, give these guys credit. Before this series, [the Nationals] went up against [Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage], [who’s] a really good arm. Just not an ideal time to go through a little bit of a funk.”

This article has been updated.