ESPN.com · Jun 20, 2016
Even with Bryce Harper's slump, Nationals head in 'One Direction' -- up
Despite Bryce Harper's struggles, the Nationals have a 5.5 game lead in the NL East.When the Washington Nationals and Stephen Strasburg square off against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw on Monday night (blockbuster alert!), the Nats will do so with a five-and-a-half game division lead and a .614 winning percentage, which is the fourth-best in the majors. Their plus-77 run differential ranks third, and their 43-27 record matches the ’79 Expos for the best start in franchise history. And they’re doing it all without Bryce Harper.
Well, kind of.