For the second consecutive day, the Washington Nationals saw their bullpen collapse late against the Philadelphia Phillies.
On Tuesday, the Washington bullpen gave up six earned runs in four innings, taking over down 2-0 and allowing the game to become an 8-2 rout. Wednesday was even worse, allowing four runs in the eighth inning to turn a 6-4 lead into an 8-6 deficit. The big blow was a three-run double by Andrew McCutchen off reliever Trevor Rosenthal.
Twitter blasted the Nationals’ bullpen performance, and many were quick to note that there’s an elite reliever on the market waiting for an offer.
Craig Kimbrel watching the Nationals’ bullpen blow another lead pic.twitter.com/xOXOH1Z0Dd
— Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) April 3, 2019
The Nationals bullpen is an abject disaster. Go sign Craig Kimbrel.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) April 3, 2019
The Nats may want to consider going to someone like Craig Kimbrel instead of Trevor Rosenthal in tight situations, idk.
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) April 3, 2019
Kimbrel just sent a text to Rizzo that reads $120 million.
— David Huzzard (@DavidHuzzard) April 3, 2019
Craig Kimbrel watching teams' bullpens melt down early in the season like pic.twitter.com/rZ5iA7Ujr2
— Bill Baer (@Baer_Bill) April 1, 2019
Don't worry Nats fans… they stayed under the luxury tax
Who needs Kimbrel…
— Tim Murray (@1TimMurray) April 3, 2019
Huh, if only there was a top-tier reliever still available on the FA market… #OnePursuit …of Craig Kimbrel.
— Kevin A. Koski (@kevinkoski) April 3, 2019
The Nationals’ current closer has made quite clear that he’d welcome Kimbrel to the club. However, the team would have to go over the luxury tax threshold to bring the reliever in, and there has been a reluctance to do that at this point. Perhaps these early season struggles will change things.
