Talk about a fairly quick change of fortune, it seems only a few short weeks ago that the Washington Nationals had a potent offense and were doing nearly everything else just well enough to bring about the idea of making a long-shot run at the MLB postseason. However, due to being bitten by the injury bug, the Nats have fallen to 38-48 and find themselves in the NL East basement, 12.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.

With the season nearing the MLB All-Star Game break, outside of 21-year-old rookie pitching sensation Stephen Strasburg, and the recent explosion of first-baseman Adam Dunn at the plate, the last month and a half has been nothing like the first forty-five days of the 2010 season were for the Washington Nationals.

As a team, the Washington Nationals are ranked 18th in the majors in overall pitching (4.20 ERA), while also finding themselves similarly placed, or lower, in all of the MLB team-hitting categories – 18th in batting average (.258), 17th in homeruns (76), 23rd in runs-batted-in (341), and 20th in hits (740). It may be time to shelve the postseason dreams unless Strasburg can pitch every other night and Dunn can occupy more than one spot in the Nats’ batting order.

There are at least a couple of sure signs of the level of mediocrity that has crept up and taken over this Nationals team; one being the fact that the pitcher who leads the team in victories is a reliever, Tyler Clippard (8-5), who also leads the team in strikeouts (57). The other would seem to be that, although he has obvious talent, should Strasburg (2-2, 2.45 ERA, 53 SO, 13.01 K/9) already be Washington’s third-leading strikeout guy (Livan Hernandez has 55) after only six outings and just over 36 innings? As good as the young rook is this still does not say much for the rest of the staff, outside of Washington’s Matt Capps who is second in the National League with his 23 saves.

Leading the Nationals at the plate is not a lofty task, especially since none of the regulars is even hitting above .300. However, outside of second-baseman Cristian Guzman (.297 BA, 81 H, 38 R) and third-baseman Ryan Zimmerman (.296 BA, 16 HR, 47 RBI), the number one and two hitters on the squad, it is Dunn and left-fielder Josh Willingham who people are talking about when the discussion turns to the trade deadline and whether or not the Nationals may be interested in moving one or both of these guys. Dunn, who swatted three homers against the Padres just the other night, now leads the Nationals with 86 hits, 20 homers (2nd in NL), 55 runs-batted-in, and .568 slugging percentage (2nd in NL), but it may be his career-high batting average (.279) which has brought the most attention, while Willingham’s team-leading .410 on-base percentage and 55 walks (both 2nd in the NL) are what brings the attention to him in addition to the obvious – 15 homeruns and 46 ribbies. Both players also have excellent .993 fielding percentages, which places Willingham in a five-way tie for second in left – behind the perfect 1.000 of Cincinnati’s Jonny Gomes – and good enough for Dunn to be in a four-way tie for seventh at first.

Does this team trade one or both of its explosive offensive weapons in an attempt to get some solid pitching to surround young gun Strasburg, or do they keep the offensive firepower and hope to build the staff with prospects coming up through the ranks? These are intriguing questions for a team that seems to potentially be on the verge of taking things to the next level. Order Washington Nationals tickets today and get on out to Nationals Park to see how things turn out.