The 2022 version of the Washington Nationals is simply not good enough to compete for anything.
Most analysts, and even the Nationals themselves, probably knew that going into the season, having lost so much talent in the last three years (after winning the World Series).
Their offense is mediocre: they are 21st in MLB (among 30 teams) in runs scored with 168; and they are 28th in home runs, with 27.
That number is a sad reflection of their hitters’ talent level, especially when we compare it with the individual home run leaders on the season.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, determined to have a career year to cash in in free agency, already has 17 home runs.
The Washington Nationals have 27. https://t.co/ct3HPyHI8V
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 24, 2022
Two Judges would surpass the current Nats’ homer total by seven.
Yes, Judge is on a tier of his own this year, but the Nationals’ homer tally is extremely disappointing.
The 2022 Nationals Are An Uninspiring Unit
They do have Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz (who hasn’t had his best year), but after those two, there isn’t really many power threats to speak of in that lineup.
The 14-29 Nationals are one of the worst teams in the league, and there is nothing Soto can do about it.
He needs some help, but isn’t getting it from his current supporting cast.
Soto himself is not having a bad year whatsoever (eight home runs and a .381 OBP) but he is expanding the zone a bit, probably eager to do it all by himself.
Only Josh Bell and Yadiel Hernandez have been comfortably above-average on offense besides Soto.
The rest?
Not so much.
Let’s see if Judge can catch up to the Nationals’ homer total by June.
All kidding aside, the Nationals could have one of their worst seasons in recent memory.
NEXT: Nationals Note Just How Much Juan Soto Has Accomplished