It's interesting to analyze why great teams don't win, and "wild card" teams do. I can't say for certain that the Nats are better than the Dodgers, but they were when it counted. People kept saying that the Dodgers hadn't played a meaninful game in months. So maybe that (non) competetive stretch kept the Dodgers down? I think that our starting pitching staff is the main reason why we are where we are. I'm happy to see Eaton and Taylor produce big-time in game 2. Of course, the Rendon-Soto combo is an obvious strength. Let's hope Strasburg continues the top-notch pitching and we can win raise the NL pennant at home!
Because MLB plays such a long season, the team that ends the season can be very different from the one that started it. Injuries play a part, changes in the roster can play a part, players themselves can figure it out or can get figured out.
The September 2019 Nats team is a far cry from the one that started the season. Just for starters, all of the following were on the opening-day roster: Barraclough, Difo, Grace, Hellickson, Miller, Noll, Rosenthal, Sanchez, Sipp and Stevenson.