Nationals All-Star outfielder James Wood will get an MRI on his left side Tuesday after leaving the team’s 6-3 loss to the Phillies in the eighth inning on Monday.

He said postgame that he felt something in the oblique area after his last swing against lefty Kyle Backhus in the seventh. Wood took the field in the bottom half of the inning, but when he took a couple of practice swings, he “didn’t feel comfortable going on with it.” He said that the concern level was “hard to know.”

Any time is a bad time to lose a player of Wood’s stature. He’s one of the best hitters in the game, adept at hitting for power and drawing walks. In the midst of a season-high six-game losing streak, the Nationals will need Wood if they want to right the ship and continue playing meaningful baseball.

This has been a trying week for them. Last Saturday, Curtis Mead was traded to Boston for left-hander Connelly Early. Mead blossomed into one of the team’s best hitters, realizing the promise that once made him a coveted prospect.

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Yesterday, the team bid adieu to Luis García Jr., one of the leaders in the clubhouse, known for his jovial personality.

In his short time with the team, All-Star Foster Griffin became a sounding board for the young, inexperienced pitching staff. He was traded to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday.

Players understand that trade movement is part of the game, but dealing with the emotional ramifications still tests even the most hardened veterans.

Manager Blake Butera said that it felt like “there was a weight lifted off these guys’ shoulders” once the first pitch rolled around. The key for the Nationals this season has been their explosive offense. But their resiliency is rooted in their trust and belief in one another. That camaraderie has been a huge part of this team’s ability to bounce back from tough losses.

“We’re in a tough stretch right now, but I feel like we built an identity and we’ve accomplished some pretty cool things,” Wood said. “So just knowing what we’ve done and just being able to lean on that success and just move past this will be big.”

Culture and camaraderie, however, can only go so far. Losing Wood for an extended stretch would be a tremendous blow to the team as they aspire to keep their playoff hopes alive.