Nationals All-Star James Wood to undergo imaging after exiting with oblique issue

PHILADELPHIA — Washington Nationals All-Star outfielder James Wood exited Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after feeling something was off in his oblique and left side following a swing in the seventh inning. Wood will have imaging done before Tuesday’s game.

The Nationals have now lost six in a row, their longest losing streak of the season. And, after the trade deadline, they are in danger of a significant offensive drop-off, especially if Wood were to land on the injured list. Wood leads the Nationals in homers (30), on-base percentage (.393), OPS (.928) and leads MLB in walks (90) and runs (100).

In the Nationals’ 6-3 loss to the Phillies, the 23-year-old grimaced almost immediately after he made contact on his way to first base on a seventh-inning groundout. Wood stayed in the game for a lengthy bottom of the seventh, during which Phillies outfielder Derek Hill smacked a go-ahead grand slam to stir the crowd at Citizens Bank Park.

Wood then tried to take a few swings after the half inning and didn’t feel comfortable. It was not a feeling he had experienced before.

Wood has started every game for the Nationals this season, emerging as an MVP candidate for the Nats. Last week, when asked about the health of Wood and CJ Abrams, manager Blake Butera had said that both were playing at close to 100 percent. Butera said Wood’s health was not a concern coming into the game.