‘Nationals Win’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

As a self-proclaimed baseball junkie and Major League Baseball enthusiast, I’m pleased to see NBC Washington getting creative while issuing MLB Delivery Man of the Month for April (Mr. Matt Capps, #55 for the Nationals) and the rest of the roster the recognition they deserve.

If you haven’t been paying attention, the Nationals are now 17-14 and tied for second in the NL East with the New York Mets, just two games behind the stellar Philadelphia Phillie squad. And — as NBC said — no … this is not a joke.

Matt Capps leads the league in saves with 13 on the year.

Tyler Clippard has six wins on the season and is tied for first for total wins in the league and currently shares the ranks with Roy Halladay and Ubaldo Jimenez.

Pudge remains hot at the plate with a scorching .365 average, having sent a solo shot to the yard this past week that brings his total of ball parks homered in to 34.

Livan continues to maintain a picture-perfect ERA (when compared to the likes of Jason Marquis’ hideous 20.52 ERA) that was under one earned run a game until this weekend.

All in all, the Nationals are getting better.

Sure, it’s really early in the season, but DC’s boys of summer are playing .500 ball against some strong ball clubs, proving that they at least have some solid baseball in ’em.

Does this mean they’ll play .500 all season? There’s no way to tell until the games are played. For now just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride … no matter how long it lasts.

Next game is slated for a 7:05 start tonight at Citi Field in New York against the Mets (17-14) for a three game series. Luis Atilano (2-0, 4.67) faces the Mets John Maine (1-1, 5.97).

Want a more in-depth look at this year’s Nationals? Check out today’s edition of the Sports Fix.