Critical homestand gets off to sluggish start

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals began their longest homestand of the season on Thursday, an 11-game stretch that will serve as a measuring stick for a team attempting to climb back into the postseason picture.

After a 12-5 stretch almost exclusively against teams under .500, Washington will host three teams with winning records, beginning with a four-game set against the D-backs, who bested the Nats 5-0 on Thursday night at Nationals Park. This stretch could serve as an indication to the front office of just how seriously to take the Nationals’ recent turnaround. A positive homestand could prove they have staying power in a playoff race. A losing one could force the Nats to reckon with some difficult decisions ahead of next month’s non-waiver Trade Deadline.

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“We’ve learned a lot over the past month about this team and how resilient they are,” manager Dave Martinez said prior to the game. “They really are. And how they feel like they can win every game. Just bringing that and coming home and having a long homestand, it helps.”

On Thursday, the Nationals had no answer for Zack Greinke, as their red-hot offense was shut out for first time at home since a 2-0 loss to the Mets on Opening Day. He carved them up almost with ease during his 7 1/3 shutout innings, not surrendering a hit until the seventh, when Trea Turner reached on an infield single. And if not for a 1-hour and 3-minute rain delay, Greinke would have had a chance to complete a “Maddux” considering he had thrown only 75 pitches.

So, the Nats can tip their cap, move on from Greinke and focus on trying to salvage the rest of this homestand.

Washington’s recent hot streak had helped them make up some ground in the National League East, but Greinke’s dominant effort combined with the surging Braves -- winners of seven straight games -- pushed the Nationals to 8 1/2 games back in the division with three teams in front of them after Thursday’s loss.

Judging from last year’s approach at the Trade Deadline, if the Nationals can find any reason to hang onto hope for a turnaround, they are going to do so. They balked on trading Bryce Harper and did not deal Daniel Murphy, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Adams and Ryan Madson until they were placed on waivers in August. This y ear, July 31 is the lone deadline for non-waiver deals, so the Nats will have to make a decision on whether they are contenders sooner.

While Martinez and Turner both mentioned that they do not pay much attention to the standings, Washington will need a winning homestand to keep pace in the division. The Phillies and Braves arrive at Nationals Park next week following Arizona, offering a direct chance to make up ground against the teams ahead of them.

“We’re trying to climb out of a little bit of a hole,” Turner said. “I think every day matters, so [we've] got to get ready tomorrow. We’re going to face another good pitcher tomorrow [Robbie Ray], so start there and we’ll see how it goes.”