A CUP of JOE in the SHOW Report #24.....don't look now but it's not the AMAZINS', Fightin' PHILS, BRAVES, or Fightin' FISH.....but the BOYS on the POTOMAC...the WASHINGTON NATIONALS...NATS if your NASTY.

Ok name one player outside of Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman that plays for the Washington Nationals. I know it's difficult but what is not difficult is the Nats' handling the NL East arguably the toughest Division in the Show.

How are the Nats' doing it with of course Pitching and Defense led by their 1-2 Punch of the aforementioned Righty Ace Strasburg and Lefty Ace Gio Gonzalez who has been better than good.  They are a combined 15-3 on the young season and also combined to strike out 181 with both ERA's under 2.45. There is nothing else to talk about in the Show when a Team is in 1st place and they have not One but Two Aces and they bring their leather to the park everyday.

Then the Starters are backed up by Double Barrel Action out of the Nats' Pen in hard-throwing right-handers in Tyler Clippard and Henry Rodriguez who have combined to save 18 games thus far. Then you thought the Braves, Fish, and Phils had an Arms Race going....... #GotARMSonthePOTOMAC.

Offensively they have been doing it collectively with Jayson Werth on the DL. 1B Adam LaRoche has been carrying the Nats' with a Team Leading 11 Bombs and 42 Ribbies with LF Phenom Bryce Harper providing a charge after being called up again about a month ago.

B-Harp is hitting.307 with 7 Bombs and 19 Ribbies and it looks like he has checked his Ego at the Door at least for now. Humble yourself Young Fella because the talent is all over your game.

Let's take a look at the Leaders in Key Categories for the NL East leading by 4 full games up Washington Nationals:

PITCHING

Wins Gonzalez 8 Strasburg 7
ERA Gonzalez 2.35 Strasburg 2.41
K's Strasburg 92 Gonzalez 89
SVs Clippard/Rodriguez 9

HITTING

Avg. Harper .307 Lombardozzi .286
Bombs LaRoche 11 Desmond 8
RBI LaRoche 42 Desmond 31
Hits Desmond 68 LaRoche 54

NL EAST Standings
          W-L      GB
1. Nats 37-23 -
2. Braves 34-28 4
3. Amazins' 33-29 5
4. Fish 32-30 6
5. Phils 29-34 9.5

Surprising enough the Fightin' Phils are doing everything but fighting as they are almost double digits out if 1st and we are even to the halfway point in the season.

The Nats' are in a real good place considering they are playing without their #1 Fielder in OF Jayson Werth. When he come back it just adds to the Offense behind LaRoche, Zimmerman, and Desmond.

Would you believe the NATS' on the Potomac are leading the NL East and they the 2nd most wins in the Show behind the Boys in Blue...the LA Dodgers.

Nats' Young Stars Strasburg and Harper are in the Fold doing work......

Note: Stats from MLB.com