Nationals frustrated stellar offense unsupported by bullpen

The Washington Nationals' Achilles' heel has famously been their bullpen.

No National League team has scored more runs than Washington, hence why it boasts a 39-25 record. That record should be higher. The team's relief corps has blown 11 saves while posting a 5.02 ERA. Once the team hits the seventh inning, all bets are off.

Patience may be wearing thin among fans - as much as it can for a first-place team - but it's also getting to the players on the offensive side of things, according to The Washington Post's Barry Svrluga.

"We feel like we have to win the game three times," an anonymous Nationals position player said.

As bad as the bullpen has been, the offense has been almost an exact polar opposite. They sit fourth in the majors in home runs (97), second in OPS (.814), second in doubles (127), and have driven in more runs (346) than any other team.

Another player has likewise grown frustrated in the notion that they simply need to score more even after the team has plated several runs by the middle innings.

"That drives us crazy," the player said. "Get some more? Come on. We've done our job."

Alarm bells are ringing. A postseason berth may be all but assured, but the team won't be able to weather the storm if the bullpen blows multiple games in October.