Are the Nats the Braves' bitches?

Yes, it's just the 4th game of the season, but tomorrow's and Sunday's games against the Braves are, believe it or not, must-win games for the Nats. They should have won today's game, but the umpires took one run away, the Nats' third base coach cost them another, and they ran themselves out of at least one more.
The Nationals failed to make the playoffs last year for a number of reasons, primary among them their failure to play well against Atlanta, winning only 3 of 19 games. The Nats and Braves are the only two good teams in the NL East, and the Nats need to show in these early games, that they have the Braves number, and take control of the division race early, like they did in 2012.
Bryce Harper looks terrible at the plate, taking pitches he should crush, and flailing at pitches out of the zone. He is also swinging flatfooted, failing to roll his hips through his swing, which is where the power develops.
Ryan Zimmerman still has the yips at third base, making a throw in the Mets series that was 20 feet off the bag. It's not affecting his hitting, as his stroke looks as good as ever. Denard Span looks like the man on fire from the end of last season, and Jayson Werth looks good at the plate as well, but there were no clutch hits forthcoming in today's game, regardless of the pitcher/batter matchup.
Tyler Clippard was the final goat, surrendering the winning run with a leadoff walk in the Braves' 8th.
The Nats need, must win Saturday and Sunday, or they will be chasing the Braves, probably futilely, for the rest of the season.