As the Chicago Cubs (77-75) face the Washington Nationals (68-84) in a critical four-game series, they find themselves on the brink of elimination from the National League wild-card race. The Cubs are coming off a disappointing series loss to the Oakland Athletics and need to sweep the Nationals to keep their playoff hopes alive. Patrick Corbin, who has shown improvement recently, will start for the Nationals, while Javier Assad aims to continue his solid performance on the mound. The Nationals are utilizing their young talent, including Dylan Crews, who has made an impact since his call-up. With only ten games left in the season, both teams are focused on player development and finishing the season strong. The matchup marks a pivotal point for the Cubs, as they look to salvage their season against a struggling Nationals team.