The Nationals certainly didn’t have a problem creating offense in Saturday, but clutch hits were a different story. Even with a very solid start by Dan Haren, one key member of the Nats bullpen had another bad inning, and the offense couldn’t help the team quite enough in a 5-3 loss.

Dan Haren was dealing through the first five batters, retiring four of those five on strikeouts. The pitch movement that got him that success didn’t quite work with Domonic Brown and Erik Kratz who hit back-to-back home runs off of Haren in the second before striking out Ben Revere looking to end the inning. So despite good stuff early and five of his first six outs being strikeouts, Haren served up some bad pitches to put the Nats behind 2-0 early.

The Nats offense did some of their own damage in the third and fourth innings. Denard Span, who had a remarkable game, scored on an Adam LaRoche single in the third inning, and then Steve Lombardozzi scored in the fourth on a Span single, which tied the game at two. Kurt Suzuki stranded the bases loaded in the third inning, though, blowing the Nats best offensive opportunity of the game at that point.

After the Nats tied it up in the fourth, Haren retired the first two batters of the inning before Phillies starter Jonathan Pettibone hit a double and scored on a Jimmy Rollins double in the next at bat, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead. The Nats wouldn’t let that stand for long, though. In the bottom half of the inning, Adam LaRoche hit his eighth home run of the season into the opposing bullpen to tie it back up at three.

In the sixth inning, Haren struck out Ryan Howard go earn his 10th strikeout of the evening. He is the only Nats pitcher to have a double-digit strikeout game this season, and it was the 14th game of his career with ten or more strikeouts. It was one of the best starts for the veteran starter in a Nats jersey.

In yet another curious decision by Davey Johnson, Haren was pinch hit for in the sixth inning. He was at just 88 pitches and had allowed just four hits in a tie game. Henry Rodriguez game in to pitch the seventh, causing Nats fans everywhere to hold their breaths. Despite a hit-by-pitch with two outs, HRod was throwing regularly in triple-digits and good command, and he got out of the inning successfully.

Drew Storen came in to pitch the eighth inning, and things went off the rails for him, as it has all too often this season. He walked Michael Young and then gave up a single and double to Delmon Young and Domonic Brown, respectively, to give the Phillies a 5-3 lead.

The Nats got another offensive rally going in the eighth with a gutsy bunt base hit to lead off the inning by Kurt Suzuki. Tyler Moore then walked to give the Nats a two-on, none-out opportunity that was squandered by the next three batters. The Nats had 10 stranded base runners after this latest failure.

A comeback wasn’t in the cards tonight, and Stephen Strasburg will face Cole Hamels tomorrow to try to win the rubber match.

After a long road trip filled with disappointing losses, the Washington Nationals (25-23) celebrated their homecoming with a solid 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals have been waiting for their injury-riddled lineup to come alive, and the bats showed signs of stirring in the 53-degree weather on Friday night. The offense put together 10 hits to score their five runs, and after scoring only nine runs in their last five games, five in one game felt colossal.

Four of those runs were scored in the fifth inning, which tied the Nationals’ season high for runs scored in a single inning. Bryce Harper, Kurt Suzuki and Tyler Moore all singled, but Adam LaRoche and Steve Lombardozzi highlighted the frame.

LaRoche hit an almost home run into the wind, which he stunningly turned into a triple to bring home Ryan Zimmerman and regain the lead from Philadelphia. It was just the 11^th triple of LaRoche’s 10-year career.

After Suzuki’s RBI-single, Lombardozzi claimed the next RBIs of the inning with a two-run double to solidify the Nationals’ lead and bring home all the runs they would need to secure the win. Lombardozzi led the overall offensive charge of the night, going 3-for-4.

On the mound, Jordan Zimmermann continued to dominate, though it wasn’t his most seamless of starts. He threw seven complete innings, and gave up six hits and two earned runs with one strikeout.

He allowed one earned run in the second inning off a Domonic Brown single, and another in the fifth off an Erik Kratz sacrifice fly. But all five of the other frames Zimmermann pitched were 1-2-3 innings, and he threw a total of only 92 pitches.

Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano each had 1-2-3 innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to close out the win for Zimmermann, making him the first National League pitcher to reach eight wins.

Despite the encouraging show of offense, the Nats still failed to make the most of certain opportunities they were handed, and left nine men on base. The most egregious offense came in the third inning when they loaded the bases on three walks to Harper, Zimmerman and LaRoche, but failed to fully capitalize, scoring only one run on an Ian Desmond sac fly.

Another unfortunate situation that kept the Nats from scoring occurred in the fourth inning. An error put Moore on second base to lead off the inning, but after Lombardozzi singled, Moore was waved home by third base coach Trent Jewett, and was tagged out after barreling into Kratz, the Phillies’ catcher.

However, overall the Nationals’ bats were much more lively in their home ballpark, and they were able to string hits together in a way they had not been doing much of lately. Maybe the return to the familiar was just what they needed to get their offense back on track.

Note: With Danny Espinosa out of the lineup with a broken bone in his right wrist, the Nationals will need to make a roster move to replenish their already shortened bench. Manager Davey Johnson said they will likely be designating pitcher Yunesky Maya for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster to call up Jeff Kobernus, who is hitting .333 at Triple-A Syracuse. 

The rivalry established between the Washington Nationals (24-23) and the Philadelphia Phillies (23-24) last year is set to heat back up as the Phillies come to Washington for the first time this season. Though with the two teams trudging through the first two months of the season, the rivalry will probably not be as fierce as in 2012 when there were marketing campaigns and stray pitches and stolen bases fueling the fire.

The Nationals are returning home from a disappointing road trip that caused them to slip four and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves, after being just one game behind them before their trip. The Phillies have been playing under .500 since April 14, but are just one game behind the Nats, so the outcome of this series has the potential to change the shape of the NL East, for as much as it matters this early on in the season.

The Phillies are 11-9 in May and have won four of their last six games against the Miami Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds, and they have continued to deal with injuries to the sixth-oldest roster in baseball.

The Nats went 9-9 against the Phillies last season, winning four of six series against them, and will look to carry on their record of success against them this weekend.

Pitch Perfect

The Nationals pitching continues to be what keeps the team afloat during the offense’s struggles, and Jordan Zimmermann, who will pitch the series opener, has been leading the charge. Zimmermann has the third-lowest ERA in the National League and is tied for the second-most wins. He will be given the task of setting the series off on the right note as he faces Kyle Kendrick.

Kendrick has made a strong start to his season. The righty has a career 4.19 ERA through seven seasons with the Phillies, but has opened 2012 with a 2.82 ERA and has been the Phillies’ most effective starter behind Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

Lefty Cole Hamels, who has a tense history with the Nationals, will close out the series on Sunday. Despite strong outings by Hamels, the Phillies have lost the last four games he has pitched in. He has not pitched with a lead since April 7, and holds a 2.87 run support average, ranking 101^st of 107 qualifying pitchers, according to MLB.com.

Hamels frustration at his team’s inability to win despite his best efforts led him to refuse to speak to the media after his last start. The Nationals will get a crack at facing Hamels – who pitched for a 1.93 ERA with 31 strikeouts in four meetings with the Nats in 2012 – and will see if his frustration spills out of the clubhouse and onto the field.

The Nationals will be doing a little shuffling of their own starting rotation to accommodate Ross Detwiler’s schedule for returning from injury. They will skip the fifth man’s spot in the rotation and allow Stephen Strasburg to face the division rival Phillies on Sunday. Detwiler is slated to return on Tuesday, during the home portion of the Baltimore Orioles series.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

The Nats have an edge over the Phillies in the pitching department, but even with as much as the Phillies have struggled to inspire their offense, they still beat the Nationals in most offensive categories.

The Phillies are hitting .248 in May, which ranks 19^th in the majors, while the Nationals are in last place with a .214 average. Overall they are averaging 3.55 runs per game, which is fourth lowest to the Nationals’ second-lowest 3.38 runs per game.

However, the Phillies’ -31 run differential is worse than the Nats’ -26, even though the Nationals only scored a total of nine runs in the final five games of their road trip.

Injures have speckled both rosters all season, and the most recent blow for the Phillies landed on second baseman Chase Utley, who was a leader of the Phillies’ offense but is now on the disabled list with an oblique strain.

Despite each team’s struggles, one will win this series. Perhaps the Nats’ return to their home ball park against a division rival will be what they need to amp up their competitiveness and walk away with a victory.

The San Francisco Giants (24-20) may be the reigning World Series champions, but as the Washington Nationals (23-21) head to AT&T Park for the final stop of their West Coast excursion, they bring with them a strong record of success against the Giants.

Last year, the Nationals dominated in matchups between the two teams, winning five of six games and outscoring them 45-24. This year, though the Nationals have been a less dominating team overall, the Giants have been experiencing their own struggles as well. San Francisco’s recent slide should make this series an interesting one to watch, considering the impact it could have on either team’s momentum.

The Giants are coming home from a road trip during which they won only one of six games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies, leading them to relinquish their first-place status to the Rockies after holding it for 25 days of the season.

The Nationals just split a series with the San Diego Padres, putting them at 3-4 on their 10-game road trip as they continue to working on boosting their offensive production. The Giants’ starters put together a 9.82 ERA over their own road trip, so perhaps the Nats will be able to capitalize on their opponent’s current struggle to spark their offense. 

The Problem With Pitching

The Nationals aren’t the only team that has experienced a dip in pitching performance between this year and last. The Giants kept pace with the Nationals as two of the top MLB pitching rotations in 2012, but have sunk dramatically lower in 2013.

Last year the Giants finished with a seventh-place 3.68 ERA, not far behind the Nats’ second-place 3.33 ERA. This year the picture is much different, with the Giants in 20th place with a 4.21 team ERA and the Nationals’ 3.42 ERA in fifth.

There is still a long way to go through this season, leaving ample room for those numbers to change, but it doesn’t help when key players on each team are unable to perform to their potential.

On the Giants’ end, Ryan Vogelsong is their pitching rotation’s biggest weak spot. He pitched for a 14-9 record and a 3.37 ERA in 189.2 innings with the Giants last season, but has been struggling mightily on the mound this year. Through eight starts and 41.1 innings, he has a 1-4 record with an 8.06 ERA, and lasted only 4.2, 4.1 and 2.0 innings in his last three starts. 

Manager Bruce Bochy wants to give Vogelsong more time to work out his problems, according to MLB.com, but there is no doubt his lack of production is negatively impacting the Giants’ success.

Luckily for the Nationals, their pitching problem is likely an easier fix.

Ross Detwiler will miss his regularly scheduled start with an oblique strain, but reports that he is feeling better daily and hopes to be back in the rotation the next time around, according to the Washington Times.

In the meantime, manager Davey Johnson turned to lefty Zach Duke to fill in for Detwiler, despite his recent struggles.

In his last outing, Duke allowed four earned runs on four hits, and made only two outs before being pulled from the game.

This spot start will be Duke’s first start since July 2010, and he hopes to use it as an opportunity for recovery from his poor performance recently, according to MLB.com.

“I have to get out there and give us a chance to win the game and re-prove to the organization and to the guys in this clubhouse that I can pitch and get people out," Duke said.

Duke began his career as a starter, and in 168 career starts he has a 4.59 ERA. He has performed similarly as a reliever with a 4.40 ERA in 30 games.

Duke and Vogelsong will face off in the series opener as each vies for his chance at redemption.

The weaknesses in the Washington Nationals offense is not limited to one player, or even a couple players. The majority of the Nats offense has been non-existent for significant stretches through the first quarter of the 2013 campaign, but Danny Espinosa is absolutely in the worst period of offensive stagnation.

Espinosa, who got an MRI last September after feeling weakness in his shoulder, said that he felt much better this spring after rehabbing all offseason, and his spring training swings looked to show that. He was quick to the ball and was moving the bat through the zone well. As so often happens when spring training ends and the real season begins, things changed quickly.

His swing went back to the loopy, uppercut swing that has a very low probability of making contact with the ball, and he struggled as he did last season, especially late in the year. Slumps can happen at any point in the season, but if a slump is all it is, it's lasted for more than 40 baseball games. It's probably time to consider one of two scenarios. Either Espinosa's shoulder isn't nearly as healthy as he said it was, or he's not as good as everyone hoped he would be.

Espinosa's slash line this season is a staggeringly terrible .163/.191/.296. That OBP is the worst in all of baseball. He has the fourth-worst batting average, and his walk percentage is third-worst in baseball and worst in the National League, too.

It's hard to avoid drawing parallels to Adam LaRoche's injury-shortened season in 2011, where he had shoulder surgery in June. LaRoche posted a bad, though not quite "Espinosa bad," .172/.288/.258 slash line before hitting the disabled list in May 2011. Only Espinosa can truly know if he's still hurting, but if he is, at some point he'll have to own up to his team and tell them. His defense is still among the best second basemen in baseball, but his defensive benefits are being outweighed by his current offensive incompetence.

If Espinosa is healthy, then there are only two viable explanations. His mired in one of the worst and longest slumps ever, or he simply hasn't been able to meet the lofty expectations that people had of him when his career started. In his first two full seasons in 2011 and 2012, he posted .236/.323/.414 and .247/.315/.402 slash lines, respectively. These are obviously far superior to his 2013 numbers thus far, but they're certainly nothing special for a second baseman, or really for any other position. Espinosa also led the National League in strikeouts in 2012.

GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post just this weekend he thinks Espinosa is the team's "best option" at second base and that he is both "physically fine" and "mentally fine." It's hard for me to imagine how both of these statements can be true. If he is both physically and mentally fine and this is how he's performed through a quarter of the year, it's hard to see how he can possibly be the best option. Similarly, if he's either physically or mentally not fine, he certainly isn't the best option for the Nats right now.

Though many people prosthelytize about the greatness of Steve Lombardozzi, it's hard to argue he'd be a better option than Espinosa, even through his significant slump. Espinosa provides significantly better defense than Lombardozzi with the threat of power, even if he hasn't been able to realize that threat much this year. Lombardozzi provides regularly weak contact that can provide value off the bench but not much as an every day starter.

In the minors, though, the Nationals may have two viable options to replace Espinosa. Jeff Kobernus, a second baseman by trade, is putting up incredible numbers in Triple-A Syracuse early this season with a .348/.381/.437 slash line. The Hardball Times even predicted he had an excellent chance to make the Tigers 25-man roster as a Rule V draft pick this offseason before being sent back to the Nationals. Meanwhile, top prospect Anthony Rendon, who had a cup of coffee in the majors earlier this season while Ryan Zimmerman was on the DL, is destroying the ball in Double-A Harrisburg and has gotten a couple chances at second base this season.

Maybe neither of these players will be better than Espinosa, but it's hard to imagine how they could possibly be any worse. Obviously, the only way either Kobernus or Rendon will get a chance is if Espinosa winds up on the disabled list. Espinosa has been a full-time starter for two full seasons, and he's absolutely not going to the minor leagues. It wouldn't do anything at all to help him improve by making him face lesser talent. However, something about the second base situation needs to be done. It's not the biggest problem the Nats are facing, but it's not a small one, either.

The Washington Nationals (21-19) are moving through the NL West from the bottom up. After dropping a series against the last-place Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nats will travel two hours south to take on the fourth-place San Diego Padres (18-21) in a four game series at Petco Park.

The Padres were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays before winning a two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, and they have won eight of 13 games in May, as have the Nationals.

The Nationals went 3-2 against them last year, and will look to bolster their continually disappointing offense to come away with a winning record again this year. The Nats finished April with a team slash line of .234/.296/.391, and halfway through May their stats are an even drearier .221/.283/.322.

But fortunately for the Nationals' chances in this series, the Padres haven’t been faring much better in May. Their offensive slash line is .231/.310/.387 this month, though their 3.33 May ERA has been helping them win ballgames.

However, their pitching numbers pale in comparison to the Nats’ MLB-leading 2.37 ERA for May. If the Nats keep pitching as they have been, and the offense finds a way to come alive in the Padres’ not so hitter friendly park, they have the opportunity to gain some momentum before facing the NL West leading San Francisco Giants.

The Injury Bug

Part of the Nationals offensive woes could be attributable to the fact that the last time all eight position players were in the lineup was on April 14. And it doesn’t look like the lineup will be complete any time soon, after the injury bug bit the Nationals hard last night.

Both Ross Detwiler and Wilson Ramos left last night’s game against the Dodgers with injuries, adding to the Nationals growing list of ailing players.

Ramos went 2-for-2 last night with a double off Zack Greinke, but the offense will have to wait a while before they can benefit from his spark. Ramos was put on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled hamstring for the second time this season, and catcher Jhonatan Solano was called up from Triple-A Syracuse.

Detwiler was doing well to begin his outing, but he was pulled from the game after the third inning due to back spasms and may miss his next start, according to the Washington Post.

Amidst all the bad news is some reprieve. Bryce Harper will be back in the starting lineup on Thursday after his unfortunate mishap with the wall in the Dodgers’ outfield, and Jayson Werth is eligible to return on Saturday.

The team is no doubt feeling the weight of having players out with injuries so often, but they will need to continue to find their way to win ballgames without their full lineup as they press on through the remaining three-fourths of the season.

Returning to Form

Stephen Strasburg will get the start in the series opener to try to reclaim the distinction of “ace” from Jordan Zimmermann, who continues to dominate. Strasburg was looking like his old self during the first four innings of his last start against the Chicago Cubs, until an implosion in the fourth inning knocked him from the game.

The Nationals offense is struggling once again, as it has in stretches this season. Against the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers, two teams who were struggling, the Nats won just two of those six games. The pitching has been stellar overall. In that six game stretch, Nats pitchers have given up more than three runs in a game just one time. On the flip side, the offense has score more than two runs just twice in that stretch.

With 40 games done, or almost exactly one-quarter of the season, it's probably not too early to be concerned about the inconsistent and occasionally dreadful offensive performances. It's not just a feeling that things aren't going well, either. The numbers back it up. Here are just a few examples of their offensive numbers as a team:

-Strikeout %: 22.7% (3rd worst in MLB)

-Slugging %: .370 (3rd worst in MLB)

-Runs scored: 138 (4th worst in MLB)

-Batting average: .231 (3rd worst in MLB)

-Wins Above Replacement: 1.9 (4th worst in MLB)

In most of those categories, the teams that are slotted worse than the Nats include the Marlins, Mets, and Astros. Those aren't exactly powerhouse teams that anyone expects anything from, in stark contrast to the Nationals. That said, the Nats have dealt with significant injuries early this season. Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, and Wilson Ramos have all spent time on the disabled list. Bryce Harper is in bad shape after crashing into the wall at Dodger Stadium. Denard Span has missed a few games with various ailments. These are five starters that have had injury issues and haven't been in the lineup, some of them for extended stretches.

On the flip side, Danny Espinosa looks as confused and helpless at the plate as he's ever looked in his career. Adam LaRoche went on an extended slump last month before breaking out and starting a 12-game hitting streak.

So, with all of that information, who is to blame?

In all sports, coaches and/or mangers are the ones that get blamed when things go poorly. If a team is losing, and they shouldn't be, it's considered the manager's loss by default. If the pitchers aren't meeting their potential, it's the pitching coach. If a normally potent lineup is struggling, it's the hitting coach. And all of that, for the most part, is a compete cop out.

It's easy to blame the coaches when expectations aren't met, but it's hard to see how it's their fault with this much talent on the roster. The players have to perform, and there isn't much hitting coach Rick Eckstein can do for his hitters. He can try to help them mentally, he can tell him if he sees them doing something weird, but he can't hit the ball for them. He can't stop them from striking out at their astronomical rate.

It is up to the players to figure out what's going on and figure out how to create success for themselves. With the exception of Bryce Harper, who was the Nats best hitter when he got hurt, the lineup is young, but they have enough MLB experience that they shouldn't need much coaching to figure out the problem. I think it is usually making excuses for underperforming players on a good team when coaches are called out, when they actually have very little impact.

If you're looking for something to blame, blame freak injuries to key players. Also, remember that the team is just one game behind the Braves for first place in the division and they are still above the .500 mark, and maybe that'll make you feel a little bit better.

The Washington Nationals (20-17) are heading west to play through the West Coast and attempt to quell any momentum the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-21) are gaining before they can build it into a streak.

The Dodgers, who have been one of the bigger disappointments of the 2013 season, underachieving despite their high payroll, just took two games from the Miami Marlins to stop an eight-game losing streak.

The last time the Dodgers snapped an eight-game losing streak was in 2008, according to MLB.com, and they countered that stretch of losing by then putting together an eight-game winning streak, ultimately becoming the NL West champions.

Though the Nationals lost their last two games, they will look to be the team that stifles the Dodgers’ chances at recreating that pattern of success, as they kick off a 10-game road trip through the NL West.

Memories in Dodger Stadium

The Nationals started out 2012 hot, winning all of their first six series. However, their first series loss of the season came at the hands of the Dodgers when they swept the Nats in Los Angeles.

Many Nationals fans remember that particular match-up because it was during that series that Bryce Harper made his debut. Harper will return to Dodger Stadium for the first time since then, after going 2-for-6 with a double, a walk and an RBI in his first two Major League games there.

To say Harper has been a significant contributor to the Nationals since his debut is an understatement, though he is hitting only .120/.233/.240 in May. He returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing two games with an ingrown toenail with hopes of getting back on track to the pace he set in April, which has his season slash line sitting at .297/.387/.619.

Harper and the rest of the Nationals lineup, who are hitting .223 in May, will look to liven up their bats in California to tilt their 19-28 record against the Dodgers since 2005 more in favor of Washington.

Injuries Galore

Though the Dodgers were a popular playoff pick in the offseason, a multitude of injuries to key players has hampered their success and reduced them to last place in the NL West.

Ten players from their colossal $220 million payroll currently sit on the disabled list, including pitchers Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly, and position players Mark Ellis and Adrian Gonzalez.

However, there is a chance the Dodgers could re-activate Greinke this week to face the Nationals, which would be great news for a team that has already had to use nine starting pitchers this season. Greinke has been on the DL since April 12 with a broken collarbone after he fought with Carlos Quentin in the benches-clearing debacle with the San Diego Padres.

If they do have to face him on Wednesday, the Nationals are well equipped to hit against the pitcher who signed a $147 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason. In 58 at bats against him, current Nationals are hitting an impressive .345/.397/.431.

Injuries have also allowed room for the Dodgers to bring up bench player Scott Van Slyke, who has already bolstered their power-sapped offense. Van Slyke was recalled from the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate on May 10, and proceeded to hit his first three career home runs in two days. He went 9-for-54 in his first 27 major league games with the Dodgers last year. The Dodgers’ offense has hit the fourth-fewest home runs in the majors this season (26).

In The Zone

Adam LaRoche (1B) .448 AVG, .528 OBP, .517 SLG, 6 BB (nine-game hitting streak)

Ian Desmond (SS) .389 AVG, .450 OBP, .833 SLG, 2 HR, 2 2B (last five games)

Who’s Hot?

Matt Kemp (CF) .348 AVG, .360 OBP, .391 SLG, 1 2B (last six games)

Carl Crawford (LF) .333 AVG, .360 OBP, .458 SLG, 1 HR (last six games)

Who’s Not?

Dee Gordan (SS) .217 AVG, .308 OBP, .348 SLG, 6 SO (last six games)

Probable Starters

Jordan Zimmermann (6-1, 1.59 ERA, .181 BAA, 34 SO) vs. Josh Beckett (0-4, 5.13 ERA, .294 BAA, 36 SO)

Dan Haren (4-3, 5.17 ERA, .315 BAA, 27 SO) vs. Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 1.62 ERA, .177 BAA, 56 SO)

Ross Detwiler (2-3, 2.53 ERA, .296 BAA, 23 SO) vs. TBA