Nationals' Record-Breaking Collapse | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 10th. I'm Corey with the story, and this is Washington Nationals News Today, your AI-powered team report.
The Nationals are setting records, but not the good kind. They just blew their 38th save of the season, which is a new Major League record. It's been a rough year for this young squad, and even when they grab an early lead, like they did against the Padres on Wednesday, things tend to fall apart. A drop ball in center field led to 3 runs for San Diego, and that was pretty much the story of the game. This whole road trip has been a struggle.
The pitching staff, both starters and relievers, has been giving up a ton of runs, averaging almost 6 per game. It's tough to win when you're constantly playing from behind. While some of the younger pitchers have shown flashes, lately it's been a consistent problem that needs a serious fix before next season.
On the bright side, Dylan Crews has been showing why he's such a highly touted prospect. He had a strong showing against both the Dodgers and Padres, hitting well and showing off his power. And then there's Cade Cavalli. He pitched lights out against the Dodgers, giving up only 2 earned runs over 6 innings with 8 strikeouts. He's looking like a true ace, which is something the team can build around. However, not everyone is shining. Shortstop CJ Abrams has been in a slump, striking out a lot and struggling at the plate. While he did hit his 30th homer, his overall numbers lately haven't been great, and it's clear he's going through some second half difficulties. When one of your key players is struggling like this, it definitely impacts the whole team. Ultimately, Wednesday's loss means the Nationals won't have a winning record this season.
This marks the 7th year in a row they'll finish below 500, the longest streak since they moved to Washington. It's been a long road since their World Series win in 2019, and while there's talent in the system, it's hard to say when things will turn around.