Nationals could wrap up fourth NL East title in six years today

The Nationals clinched their first division title thanks to a Braves loss in Pittsburgh. They clinched their second division title with a win in Atlanta in front of only a smattering of their fans in attendance. They clinched their third division title with the combination of a win in Pittsburgh and then a Mets loss in New York a few minutes later.

What the Nats haven't done during this impressive stretch over the last six seasons is clinch something with a win at home, affording themselves the opportunity to mob each other in the middle of the diamond as a ballpark full of their fans roars with approval.

That opportunity finally will present itself. Perhaps as soon as this afternoon.

Though they lost Saturday night to the Phillies 5-4, the Nationals benefited from the Marlins' walk-off loss in Atlanta, a result that reduced their magic number to clinch the National League East title to two. Up 19 games with 20 to play, the time has come at last to make this thing official.

With seven more games to go on this long homestand, there will be plenty more chances to do it on South Capitol Street. But to get the job done today, it will require a victory over the Phillies coupled with another Marlins loss to the Braves, with both games set to begin at 1:35 p.m. EDT.

The Nationals insist they won't put any added emphasis on trying to seal the deal today.

"We'll just come out and play the game," center fielder Michael A. Taylor said. "You can't think about those things and start pressing and things like that. We'll come out and look to play a good game. And if it happens, it happens. And if not, we'll come out the next day and try to do the same thing."

If you need further evidence of that attitude, just consider Dusty Baker's plan for this series finale. Having finally reached the finale of a 21-games-in-20-days stretch, and with an off-day coming Monday, Baker intends to field a lineup mostly consisting of young players, giving his veterans a full 48 hours of rest at a time when they need it.

"It doesn't change anything," the manager said. "Just go out and play. We have some young players who are going to play, because our guys have 21 games in 20 days. So these guys need a blow, and (today's) the perfect time. I'm just going to take them all out and go for it."

That doesn't mean the Nationals are sacrificing the game, of course. They are sending Stephen Strasburg to the mound, even though they could have elected to push Strasburg and the rest of the rotation back a day and start A.J. Cole instead.

Strasburg, though, has pitched exceptionally well of late - he owns an 0.75 ERA over his last six outings - and wants to remain on a regular, five-day rotation. So the right-hander will get the ball against an improving-but-inexperienced Phillies lineup with a chance to pitch his team into the postseason.

That would be fitting, given the importance of Strasburg's presence on this year's postseason roster. He had already been shut down in September 2012, when the Nationals clinched their first division crown. He contributed to the 2014 National League East title, but watched as Tanner Roark started the clincher at Turner Field. And he was injured last September before things were wrapped up.

Now, Strasburg has an opportunity not only to pitch the Nationals into the postseason for the fourth time in six years, but continue a personal run that he and the club hope includes many more starts in this postseason.