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How the Nationals won the NL East
The Washington Nationals are back on top in the NL East following a disappointing 2013 that found them on the outside looking in during the postseason.
Under rookie manager Matt Williams, the Nationals rebounded and separated themselves from the pack in a division that proved more competitive than most anticipated. Washington's playoff ticket was punched Tuesday night as they knocked off their nearest competitor and the team that unseated them in 2013, the Atlanta Braves, 3-0 at Turner Field.
The division championship is Washington's second, both of which have come in the last three seasons. Washington won 98 games in 2012, but fell 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals in a disappointing NLCS showing. Now they have a chance to redeem themselves for two seasons of falling short on expectations.
Before that journey begins though, here's a look back at five key factors that have led to their success in 2014.
All of the aces
With three legit aces in Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez already in place, the addition of Doug Fister via an offseason trade may have seemed unnecessary. General manager Mike Rizzo didn't care, though. He was leaving nothing to chance after falling short in 2013 season, so he moved to make a loaded rotation even deeper. The aggression paid off. with Fister posting 14 wins and a 2.59 ERA through his first 23 starts. Add in the unexpected emergence of 28-year-old Tanner Roark, who earned his 14th win in Tuesday's clincher, and Washington's rotation has been rock solid from top to bottom.
Series dominance
It's cliche, but winning more series than you lose is a good way to guarantee success. The Nationals have mastered the art, going 22-6-2 in series of at least three games since May 30, That stretch includes series wins over other potential postseason teams like the Braves, Dodgers, Giants, Pirates and Mariners, and it serves as a reminder that great pitching is tough to beat in a short series.
The breakout of Anthony Rendon
With All-Stars Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper slowed by injury, second-year infielder Anthony Rendon has arguably been Washington's most well-rounded and consistent offensive performer. Hitting .285 with 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, 108 runs scored and 15 stolen bases, Rendon gives Washington a little bit of everything. He can set the table, he can get a ball in play when needed, and his plus power makes him a potential middle-of-the-order run producer as well. He's a handy defender as well, giving Matt Williams games at second and third base.
Quality depth
You can only break camp with 25 players, but every team knows they'll need contributions from 30-35 to get through 162 games. When the Nationals were forced to utilize or dip in that next tier of players, there was little to no drop off in production. What helped, though, is not only young guys like Rendon and Roark stepping up, but the veteran talent with established reputations have all carried their weight. Jayson Werth, Denard Span, Adam Laroche, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos are all having very good seasons, which has kept the offense on track.
Pure determination
The Nationals were the popular pick to win the East. That they've run away with the division and hid is not a surprise. However, the same exceptions existed in 2013, and the Nationals failed to live up to the hype. It was a reminder that success is not awarded or guaranteed, it's earned every day on the field. This season, the every day focus they seemed to be missing has been clear. They've overcome injuries, they've adapted to a new manager, and continued playing with a purpose even as the Atlanta Braves battled they've played with purpose. They're a team on a mission, and phase one is now complete.
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is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
