General manager Mike Rizzo faces critical decisions as the Washington Nationals find themselves unexpectedly in the mix for a playoff spot.
Rizzo has another task to settle regarding the team’s direction at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. One player the Nationals should seriously consider acquiring is Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.
After a challenging 2024 season and a rough start to 2025, Bednar has recently returned to form and could potentially be a high-leverage reliever. This makes him an appealing target for Washington, which is in need of bullpen improvements to compete in the National League.
David Bednar, Painted 80mph Curveball. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/huJ32UMSjv
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2025
The potential acquisition of Bednar could enhance the Nationals’ bullpen, which currently ranks 28th in ERA among all MLB units.
His performance, particularly since returning from a minor league stint on April 19, has only seen a surge.
He has allowed just one run over his last six outings and concluded May with a respectable 3.86 ERA. Adding a reliever of Bednar’s caliber would not only bolster the bullpen but also provide a much-needed safety net for the team as they aim to maintain their competitive edge through the summer months.
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Moreover, pursuing Bednar would likely not put much stress on the Nationals’ purse in terms of top-tier prospect capital.
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Washington Nationals Ended The Weekend On A Positive Note
The Washington Nationals are starting to turn things around and are inching their way into the playoff conversation after a rough start to the season.
They just wrapped up an exciting weekend with a series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road. They also took two out of three from the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park earlier in the week.
While they did suffer a loss on Sunday, finishing the week with a fantastic 4-2 record is certainly something to celebrate. More reasonable, especially considering the tough competition and being away from home.
we've runs pic.twitter.com/yuDa14zJgT
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 1, 2025
Thanks to their strong showing, the Nationals ended May with a three-game cushion above the .500 mark and climbed two spots to No. 23 in the latest MLB power rankings.
So, what’s been working for the Nats lately? For starters, their offense has been on fire. In their four wins, they scored an eye-popping 38 runs, with each game boasting at least nine runs.
They also posted a .315 batting average with a .401 on-base percentage and a .562 slugging percentage. Over those games, they racked up 48 hits, with 22 being extra-base hits, including seven home runs, all while keeping the strikeouts down to just 27.
Also Read: Colorado Rockies Collapse Into MLB History With All-Time Worst Start
