WASHINGTON -- If nothing else, Sunday’s series finale in D.C. should make the Padres’ Trade Deadline priorities abundantly clear.

They could use some help in the rotation and at the back end of their bullpen.

Both struggled in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Nationals -- a brutal defeat that saw San Diego rally from an early four-run deficit, then rally to tie the game again in the top of the ninth inning, before Alcides Escobar's long walk-off single glanced off the glove of center fielder Trent Grisham.

Grisham had tied the game with a two-out single in the top half of the inning. Eric Hosmer, Jurickson Profar and Manny Machado homered, too. But after the Padres had completed Saturday’s suspended game with a 10-4 victory earlier in the afternoon, they couldn’t finish their sweep in D.C., despite scoring a franchise record 41 runs in the three-game series.

“When we have the club we have, we can pick each other up and we can win different ways,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said, juxtaposing his team’s red-hot offense with its slumping rotation.

Indeed, the Padres' pitching staff has mostly carried its weight this year, but it’s far from complete. The past few weeks should be evidence enough of that. There are deficiencies in the rotation and bullpen, and general manager A.J. Preller has 12 days left to address them.

First, the rotation. Padres starter Joe Musgrove managed to grind his way through five innings while allowing four runs and keeping the Padres within striking distance on Sunday. But, again, he wasn’t particularly sharp; Musgrove struck out three and walked two over those five innings.

“I just feel like there’s a kink in the delivery that’s not allowing me to let the ball go,” Musgrove said. “I have no problem going out there, battling and fighting. I’m never going to roll over. But I’m just tired of battling. I need an outing where I can feel consistent with the delivery, go out there and attack."

Musgrove hasn’t been himself for about a month. But he isn’t the issue. The Padres are confident Musgrove will hone his mechanics and turn things around. Despite his struggles, the right-hander owns a 3.14 ERA this season. Pair him with Yu Darvish atop the rotation, and the Padres like their chances.

But the rest of the starters are mired in question marks. Chris Paddack and Blake Snell were hit hard this weekend. Both have posted ERAs north of 5.00. With the three teams atop the NL West pulling away from the rest of the league, it’s fair to start wondering about the Padres’ October rotation. It’s also fair to wonder whether Paddack, or even Snell, belongs.

Beyond those two, however, there isn’t much help -- at least not right now. There are unanswered questions surrounding the health of Dinelson Lamet (right forearm inflammation) and Ryan Weathers (right ankle fracture). The organizational depth is thin.

As such, maybe the question isn’t if the Padres might trade for a starter. Maybe it’s: How many? (When, after all, has Preller ever skimped?)

In the bullpen, the level of concern is lower -- particularly with a healthy Drew Pomeranz back in the fold. The Padres’ 2.97 relief ERA remains the best in the Majors -- even after Emilio Pagán surrendered the lead in the eighth on Sunday, allowing three runs on homers by Escobar and Juan Soto, before Mark Melancon allowed the winning run in the ninth.

Still, despite the gaudy numbers it’s hard to envision Preller standing pat at the Deadline. Add one more shutdown bullpen arm to complement Pomeranz and Melancon at the back end, and the other pieces fall into place. Put Pagán, Tim Hill, Austin Adams, Pierce Johnson, Craig Stammen and perhaps a healthy Matt Strahm behind an elite back end trio and that sounds like a reliable playoff bullpen. (At least as reliable as playoff bullpens ever are.)

As for the Padres’ other need -- a bat -- Sunday offered a different kind of clarity there. Hosmer and Profar both homered off Max Scherzer, continuing a torrid July for two hitters who were extremely poor in June. Even little-used bench piece Jorge Mateo showcased his value, pinch-running and swiping two bags in the ninth, ultimately scoring the tying run.

Sure, the Padres could use an offensive upgrade. But they might already have the pieces in house to get by.

After a game like Sunday’s, that feels somewhat less true of the pitching staff right now.