You know you have a good team when your fourth starter has to start Game 1 and he pitches seven and two-thirds hitless innings for the win.

You’re in a good position when you have a one-game lead under your belt and you still have yet to march out Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin.

The Nationals are looking like this is the year they, like the Rangers in 2010, finally kick in the World Series door.

Yes, they were the wild card team. But the Nationals had the opposite season of the Rangers, who, early on this season were ten games over .500 then watched the bottom fall out. After 55 games, on May 28, Washington was ten games under .500. Then the light switched on.

The Nationals went 18-8 in June, 15-10 in July, 19-7 in August, and 17-11 in September.

Like two ships passing in the night, both team’s seasons went their separate ways. Washington, to a Game 1 victory in the Championship Series. Texas, to another offseason of looking for fill dirt.

This is not a surprise. This would not be an upset. Washington came into the playoffs on a huge roll. Even though they had to enter through the pet door, this team is for real

They have three dominating starters. A deep lineup. And, perhaps the biggest strength of all, no more Bryce Harper. How can they lose?

*****
TODAY’S GAMES:

Max Scherzer vs. Adam Wainwright
Game time: 3:08 on TBS

Masahiro Tanaka vs. Zack Greinke
Game time: 7:08 on FOX