Eight reasons the Nationals pitching staff is among the best ever

Post columnist Thomas Boswell explained just how good this group is. Here are some of the most eye-popping facts and figures.

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1. They're the best this season ... and it's not even close.

After 70 games, the Nats not only lead the majors in ERA at 2.95, but they also lead it by a huge and startling margin. Nobody is close. ... The Nats’ ERA is more than a full run lower than either the major league (3.98) or National League (3.96) ERA. (Pictured: Ace Stephen Strasburg warms up before a game against the Rockies.)

Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

2. Their stats match up with anyone, ever.

The Nats’ current ERA+ is 135, which means, adjusted for fairly neutral Nats Park, they are 35 percent better than the major league norm in 2012. Where does that stand? If the Nats maintain their current pace, they would have the second-best ERA+ in more than 100 years, second only to the 1926 Philadelphia A’s led by Hall of Famer Lefty Grove and 247-game winner Jack Quinn. The other teams in the top half-dozen over the last century (excluding World War II years) are the ’39 Yankees (Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez); the ’97 and ’02 Braves of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz; and the ’54 Indians with Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser (all Hall of Famers), and relievers Don Mossi and Ray Narleski. Talk about being in good company. (Pictured: Gio Gonzalez gives the "think" sign to his catcher as he pitches against the Atlanta Braves.)

Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images

3. They've done it against tough competition.

The Nats have certainly worked against early-season headwinds. Of their 70 games, 45 have been against teams ranked in the top half of the sport in offense. Of their last 50 foes, 39 have records over .500, not counting six with the Phils, who won 102 games in ’11. (Pictured: Jordan Zimmermann pitches against the Florida Marlins.)

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

4. They demand their own stat: High-quality starts.

Most teams value “quality starts” — a minimum of six innings and no more than three runs allowed. The Nats have 47 of those. But that demands only a 4.50 ERA or better. Why not raise the bar? Why not demand a “high-quality” start that requires an ERA of 3.00 or less? Even three runs in eight innings wouldn’t be good enough. The Nats now have an amazing 42 of those, including Ross Detwiler's (pictured) five scoreless innings Sunday in his first start since he was moved back into the rotation.

Gene J. Puskar / AP

5. The bullpen has finished what the rotation has started.

The ERAs of the starting rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler are 2.46, 2.55, 2.89, 2.91 and 3.09. Everybody talks about that. But relievers Craig Stammen, Sean Burnett, Ryan Mattheus (pictured) and Tyler Clippard have a combined 1.73 ERA in 120 innings.

Justin Edmonds / Getty Images

6. They found a closer in Tyler Clippard ...

“We’ve got unbelievable pitching. A lot of teams are noticing. How can they not?” said Tyler Clippard (pictured), who has been 12 for 12 in save opportunities with one hit allowed. “It’s fun to be part of. Our starters, two or three runs are the most they ever seem to give up.” Clippard has a 1.95 ERA and a .897 WHIP. He's struck out 39 batters in 32.1 innings.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

7. ... and they're getting one back in Drew Storen.

I think a lot can happen between now and the time Storen (pictured) gets back, probably after the All-Star game. By keeping Storen as the set-up man, if that's how it goes, you put him back in a lower-pressure environment after the first arm surgery of his career. He's not happy about it. But he seems to accept it.

Evan Vucci / AP

8. Stop thinking. Just enjoy it.

Can the Nats keep it up? Will their arms (including that of Edwin Jackson, pictured) stay healthy or not? Let all of that take care of itself. What this staff has already accomplished deserves praise and perspective. You could live 10 lives in 10 baseball cities and never see pitching as consistently exceptional, relative to the standards of the era, as the Nats have provided so far. That’s fact.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

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