Stellar pitching and clutch hitting was expected to be the key to winning the NL East yet again for the Philadelphia Phillies. It has actually been the key for securing the top spot, but for an unexpected team. The Washington Nationals have sole possession of first place after the first month, 3 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia, using a spectacular rotation and an offensive burst from Bryce Harper.

Ross Detwiler threw another gem Thursday night, lowering his team’s ERA to a league-leading 2.03, and Harper doubled home the winning run in a 2-1 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Harper has been just what the doctor ordered for the Nationals. He was called up in the middle of their five-game losing streak last week where the team scored a combined seven runs. They’ve plated that many in their last two, and it’s all thanks to the rookie phenom who is now hitting out of the 3 hole. Harper also scored the game winner Wednesday night against the Diamondbacks.

“If I’m hitting two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight or nine it doesn’t really matter,” Harper told the Associated Press “It doesn’t change the way I’m going to go up there and play.”

That trend will likely continue tonight as Stephen Strasburg takes the mound again. He comes in with a microscopic 1.12 ERA, second best in the NL, and hasn’t given up more than two runs yet. He has 34 strikeouts in 32 innings, while only walking six in that span. If he can keep that pace, it will be an easy night Friday.

The Phillies, still without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, are only scoring 3.73 runs per game. Hunter Pence is on a six-game hitting streak, though, and Shane Victorino cracked a homer last night. Journeyman Laynce Nix has been the team’s hottest hitter, though, raising his average to .342 last night with a 2-for-3 performance against the Atlanta Braves.

“It’s hard for me to take him out, isn’t it?” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel asked reporters. “He’s hitting the ball hard, he’s hitting homers, he’s hitting doubles, he’s hitting .300, and .300 hitters are hard to come by these days.”

The Phillies have managed to crawl back to .500 despite the offensive woes due to great starting pitching, though. Joe Blanton threw a shutout last night and now it’s Kyle Kendrick’s turn. The righty continues to take Cliff Lee’s spot in the rotation, but hasn’t fared well against Washington. He’s 2-3 with a 5.46 ERA against Washington in 13 appearances.

The Nationals have won the last five meetings dating back to last year, and nine of their last 11 overall. Thus, they are favored to win the series, according to Bovada’s Phillies vs. Nationals Team Props page.

Strasburg makes the Nationals a 1 1/2-run favorite at home, according to Bovada, with a -185 moneyline.