Over the course of two weeks, any team can look like the best or worst team in baseball. It's hardly time to panic, but a 5-6 start was not what many expected for the Washington Nationals. Before the season, they were ESPN experts' most popular pick to win the World Series. But after two weeks, the Nationals trail the Mets and Braves in the division and are only separated from the last-place Marlins and Phillies by two games.
The Nationals' problems are not isolated to one facet of the game. They have been limited by early-season injuries to starters Anthony Rendon, Denard Span and Jayson Werth, and the team has hit just .211. And while the expected strength of the team, its rotation, has performed well, it has been sabotaged by exceptionally poor defensive play.