Gonzalez's dream season continues, on and off the field

Some athletes try to compartmentalize their professional lives and their personal lives, making sure not to let one impact the other. Gio Gonzalez just decides to embrace it all and enjoy both to the fullest, even if they sometimes intersect.

For the veteran left-hander, there was no way to separate the two this week, not with everything he experienced. Nine days ago, he nearly threw a no-hitter in Miami, on the night the Marlins were memorializing José Fernández on what would have been the ace's 25th birthday. Five days ago, he left the Nationals and returned to Washington to be with his wife, Lea, before she gave birth to the couple's second child. Three days ago, that child arrived, with little Gabriel Gonzalez joining his 17-month-old brother, Enzo, as part of a happy family.

Two days ago, Gonzalez rejoined the Nationals and began preparing to make his next start. And tonight he took the mound, against that same Marlins lineup, and once again dominated in leading his team to a 10-1 rout.

So, what exactly was this week like?

"I got to see some baseball on TV," Gonzalez said. "And then I also got to spend some time with my son, change some diapers and really get to know the whole family in an eight-day span. As far as that, it was a beautiful thing. I couldn't be happier to change some diapers. So, Lea, if you're listening, I love every bit of it."

Suffice it to say, Gonzalez's mind is preoccupied right now with baseball and family. Sometimes both at the same time.

At one point during his paternity leave, Gonzalez started worrying that he had no opportunity to play catch and keep his arm fresh in anticipation of his next start. He nearly had to improvise.

"It was tough, because there was a couple days in the hospital where I couldn't go anywhere and throw. I told Lea: 'Fourth day, you might have to put a glove on with Enzo and Gabriel right next to you.' And she was like: 'I'm all for it! Let's go!'"

Thankfully, that wasn't necessary. The Nationals, with pitching coach Mike Maddux leading the way, decided to push back Gonzalez's start to tonight, even though it meant sending A.J. Cole back to the mound Tuesday. Ensuring Gonzalez had ample time to prepare in a proper fashion took priority over everything else.

"Thank God Mad Dog gave me a heads up: 'Hey, you're going to have the third game here,'" Gonzalez said. So it gave me a chance to throw a bullpen and warm up a little bit."

The plan worked to near-perfection, because Gonzalez took the mound tonight and looked like he hadn't missed a beat since his last outing. He went seven strong innings, allowing just one run. He showed off some newfound efficiency with three innings of fewer than 10 pitches apiece.

And, as he's done all season, he showed an uncanny ability to pitch his way out of tight spots. The Marlins managed just one hit with a runner in scoring position, which leaves Gonzalez sporting an MLB-best .124 batting average against him in those situations, down a staggering 209 points from last season.

"He's doing it really well," said Howie Kendrick, who has 29 career plate appearances against Gonzalez and now calls him a teammate. "He's throwing a lot of strikes. He's getting guys out when he needs to, getting ground balls when he needs them, and he's going right at guys. I like that."

Among the reasons for Gonzalez's turnaround this season? His increased usage of his off-speed pitches, even when he's behind in the count.

"I think his changeup's been really good for him this year," first baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "Everyone talks about his curveball and his strike-throwing ... but I feel like he gets a lot of ground balls with that changeup, especially in counts where the hitter's got a plus count. He's been able to throw that changeup in the zone, and you don't see too many guys taking great swings on it."

With the season more than two-thirds complete, Gonzalez now finds himself with a 10-5 record and 2.59 ERA (fourth-best in the majors). He's averaging nearly 6 1/2 innings per start, and that has him on pace to surpass 180 total innings by the first week of September, at which point his $12 million option for 2018 will automatically vest.

The Nationals will happily pay him and have growing reason to believe he can continue his winning ways.

"Gio has it going on," manager Dusty Baker said. "Why expect a guy is going to do poorly when he's done great? You just keep adding on to what you've done and those positive thoughts."

It's all positive for Gonzalez right now, whether at the ballpark or at home. Though you do have to wonder how much he's been able to sleep in the last week.

"The amount of sleep I've been getting is absolutely ..." Gonzalez started, before pausing and coming to his senses. "I can't lie in front of Lea, because she's watching right now. I'm getting plenty of sleep, babe. I love every bit of it!"