PHILADELPHIA – The Nationals have made progress this year, no doubt.

For the most part, the young pitching staff has made strides. CJ Abrams was an All-Star. Jacob Young is the favorite to win the National League Gold Glove Award in center field. Luis García Jr. and Keibert Ruiz are having strong second halves. And a crop of newly acquired young talent is getting their shot at the major league level.

Plus, the Nats now boast a top-five farm system, per Baseball America, that has depth at the lower levels of the minor leagues and top prospects nearing their big league debuts.

But although they were on pace to eclipse their 71 wins from last year for much of this season, after last night’s brutal 13-3 loss to the Phillies they have the same record after 122 games as they had in 2023: 55-67.

And last night’s loss underscored the next step the Nats need to take to get where they want to be.

MIAMI – The Nationals won 16 more games in 2023 than they did in 2022. Although that was an obvious improvement, they were careful not to label it a successful season. After all, 71 wins isn’t something to brag about.

The goal is to finish above .500. To get back to the playoffs. To win another championship.

Those are the successes the Nats are striving for this year and in the next couple of years.

The record comes first. With yesterday’s win over the Marlins to complete a four-game series mopping, the Nats are at .500 for the first time this late into a season since they were 40-40 entering July 2, 2021.

Some might try to poke fun at a team celebrating being 14-14. But you have to call it what it is: Progress.

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