It is amazing to think about how productive the bullpen has been this season for the Nationals. Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano have been very efficient in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames. Soriano is 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA with 23 saves this season. Storen is 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings. Clippard is 6-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 42 innings. What is truly amazing is the trio's recent ability to close out games. Soriano did have one hiccup, but these numbers are nothing short of astounding. Soriano's ERA is 0.90, Storen's is 0.93 and Clippard's is 0.90 over the last 10 games. Couple that with starting pitching that has usually been able to go six innings - and has averaged almost seven innings during their recent stretch - and opponents have very little wiggle room for any type of rally. That is why the Nationals are 45-3 when the team scores four or more runs.

But as impressive, and maybe even more so, is the specialist roles filled by Craig Stammen, Aaron Barrett, Jerry Blevins and Ross Detwiler. Detwiler is 1-0 with a save and a 0.64 ERA in his last nine games. His season ERA is 3.56. Blevins has had a rough run the last seven days with a 4.50 ERA. But he has been good the last 28 days, with a 2.35 ERA. He allowed three earned runs June 27 against the Cubs and two earned runs July 19 versus the Brewers. Barrett has been placed in high-leverage situations and comes through. On July 21, he struck out Brandon Barnes of the Rockies when they had men on and a chance to change the game. But overall, his ERA has been 6.14 over his last 10 games. Stammen has done a very good job as a long reliever. When Gio Gonzalez struggled, Stammen did not allow a hit or a run for 2 2/3 innings against Milwaukee. The Nationals won that game on a ninth-inning Jayson Werth double. He earned his first win of the season July 22 versus Colorado. The Nationals have legit left-handed relievers in Blevins and Detwiler that can be placed in one-out specialist roles or extended long relief. Stammen does that from the right side. Barrett can attack hitters with his fastball and slider if the team needs one big out to get out of a major jam. These seven relievers together have been solid throughout the season. The middle four of Stammen, Barrett, Blevins and Detwiler play a critical role in the Nats' search for a pennant because a lot of times, they will be required to get one out late in games. They have compiled a 2.61 ERA in 299 2/3 innings, with 25 saves and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. They have 275 strikeouts with only 101 walks, 11 of those intentional. The ERA is second only to the Padres (2.61) in the National League. The batting average against by the relievers is third in the National League at .226. All are a far cry from last season when the group struggled at times. Their ability to get guys out will be a crucial component in the Nationals continuing their recent positive play into August. I mean, that's what Werth expected - a second-half run, right? Better do it.