Post by Dave Slavin 

Former #1 overall draft picks Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg have been key parts in the Nationals hot start.

If asked who would be contending for the division lead heading into the second month of the season, how many of you would have said the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals? In 2011 the O’s finished dead last in the A.L. East and the Nats finished 21.5 games off the pace in the N.L. East. That’s what makes these teams the biggest surprise thus far in the 2012 campaign.

Pitching has been the key to success for both clubs.  Baltimore, sporting a 20-12 record, which is good enough to tie them with, last year’s wildcard Tampa Bay Rays.  Washington has a similar 19-12 record and is .5 games in front of the Atlanta Braves.

The Orioles are in one of, if not the toughest division in baseball, the A.L. East.  With powerhouses like the Yankees and the Red Sox, nobody seems to pick the O’s for just about anything.  This season, Baltimore has found some early magic and has been riding it. Read the rest of this entry »