Surging

After a sluggish start to 2019, the Washington Nationals have caught fire. 10 games under .500 after a Memorial Day loss to the Marlins, DC's team stands 16 over this morning -- a 26-game turnaround in just three months.

While pricey free agent pitcher Patrick Corbin has been effective at the top of the rotation alongside Stephen Strasburg and the now-injured Max Scherzer, Anthony Rendon has keyed the offense. He's had quite a "walk" year -- hitting close to .330 with 29 homers and more than 100 RBI. The kind of numbers that help Washington fans deal with Bryce Harper's defection to the rival Phllies.

With four-and-a-half weeks left in the season, the Nats hold the top NL Wild Card, three games ahead of the number-two Cubs and 5-1/2 clear of Harper's new team, the Phillies.

Of course, nothing in settled. Should the Nats suddenly revert to their form of April and May, their lead could melt away. And, regardless of how the season goes, Washington fans now face the same kind of uncertainty they faced with Harper as Rendon heads towards free agency, and perhaps a contract bigger than the club is willing to fund.

But for now, give the Nats credit for turning what looked like a lost season into one with, as my colleague and pal Steve Somers likes to say, "Meaningful September Baseball."