National League April Review

Source: lastwordonsports.com --- Sunday, April 30, 2017
By Blake Tarrants – Last Word On Baseball April of 2017 wraps up on Sunday. Some teams have put themselves in an early position to dream big, some have digging to do, and some are stuck in the middle. Here is a recap of the National League standings by division as April concludes. There will also be a look at one big surprise and one disappointment. National League April Review: Nats Bats, Giant Disappointment Highlight April in NL National League Standings NL East The East has been dominated in the nation’s capital as the Washington Nationals have come out of the gates on fire this season to lead the division early. Bryce Harper appears to have returned to his MVP form of 2015, and this season may even be better. Harper’s slash line says it all .386/.500/.750. Amazingly, Harper’s 1.250 OPS isn’t even the best on the team. That is because first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has gone completely nuts, hitting a ridiculous .410 with an OPS (1.347) that is good for second in the majors. Second baseman Daniel Murphy continues to be a force at the top of Washington’s lineup, leading the team with 101 at bats. His three-year, $36 million deal from two off-seasons ago looks like one of the biggest steals in recent memory. He will likely join Harper as one of the big-ticket free agents in the monster class of 2018-2019. Elsewhere in the division, the New York Mets, expected to be right up there with Washington this year, are off to a tough star ...

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