The Washington Nationals have been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the early 2026 season. The offense is electric, the pitching staff has found its groove after a shaky start, and there's a buzz around the ballpark that hasn't been felt in years. But if there's one glaring weakness threatening to derail all that momentum, it's the defense—and it's getting hard to ignore.

Even in last night's convincing win, the Nats committed two errors and a passed ball. Clean, error-free baseball has been a rare sight in D.C. this season. Through 42 games, the Nationals have already racked up 41 errors—averaging nearly one per game. To put that in perspective, they're on pace to post the most errors by any team since the start of the 21st century. That's not just a rough patch; that's historically bad.

Manager Blake Butera knows it. He's addressed the issue multiple times, emphasizing the need to clean things up. A few weeks ago, he talked about changing up the routine. It didn't take. Before yesterday's game, he pointed out that the team wasn't using its athleticism effectively in the field. The message is clear, but the execution isn't matching the intent.

Let's be honest—nobody expected this team to win Gold Gloves across the diamond. The Nationals weren't great defensively last year, and their lineup features several players who are known more for their bats than their gloves. The two best players on the roster, James Wood and CJ Abrams, are both below-average defenders. That sets a tone, and not in a good way.

But here's the thing: elite defense isn't a prerequisite for winning a World Series. The Dodgers have been middle-of-the-pack defensively the last two seasons and still found success. The Nationals themselves proved that in 2019, when they won it all without being a defensive powerhouse. You don't need to be perfect in the field—you just need to be acceptable.

Right now, the Nats aren't even close to acceptable. Averaging nearly an error per game is a recipe for disaster, no matter how good the offense or pitching might be. The talent is there. The energy is there. But if Butera and his coaching staff can't find a way to tighten up the defense soon, all those exciting wins could start slipping through their fingers—literally.