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Twenty-five games into this season, the Washington Nationals are without, to name a few, their best slugger (Michael Morse), their best player (Ryan Zimmerman) and their closer (Drew Storen). Injuries, it seems, have come in droves. The Nationals are also without backup closer (Brad Lidge) and a utility player (Mark DeRosa) they coveted in the offseason. And the team’s best hitter so far this year, Adam LaRoche, was scratched hours before Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks.

Yet 25 games in, the Nationals are 16-9, still good enough for first place in the National League East, thanks to a 2-1 win before an announced crowd of 19,656 on Thursday. And while the offense around him has fallen to chips and strains and tears, it’s the all-hustle, uber-talented 19-year-old Bryce Harper, called up to the major leagues only five games ago, who has produced...

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