Washington Nationals Off to Hot Start

As we approach the end of April, the Washington Nationals have the best record in the National League at 15-6 through games of April 26th. They’ve gotten there in part due to some very hot bats.

Bryce Harper led the majors through April 26th with a .432 batting average, and was tied for the lead in RBIs at 22. Ryan Zimmerman was hitting .387 with eight homers and 21 RBIs. Washington is playing a four game series at the Colorado Rockies, a team that is nearly as hot as the Nationals and is also known for some big bats. The Rockies lead the N.L. West at 14-6 following an 11-4 loss to Washington on the 26th.

Harper was four for four in the game, and Zimmerman was three for five with three RBIs. The Nationals also have Daniel Murphy who hit .347 last year and is at .330 this year. Murphy was two for five with three RBIs as well. Shortstop Trey Turner, hitting .326, was three for five with two RBIs. Turner hit for the cycle against Colorado on the 24th, the first time a National has done that since 2008.

Big things were expected from Washington the last two years, but the team has come up short (though the Nationals did make it to the post season last year, losing to the Dodgers). Perhaps this is the year those expectations are reached.