After the offensive avalanche the Washington Nationals displayed in their first home series since the All-Star break, the 2017 Nats can now be considered on pace to be called the best Nationals team of all time.

Returning from a west coast road trip, where Dusty Baker’s crew went 7-2 and scored 54 runs, the Nats were blanked in their first home game in 17 days against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was looking pretty bleak through seven innings the next night, before Bryce Harper blew a gasket after striking out in the eighth, arguing a low first pitch strike in the at-bat in a tied game.

Harper's ejection was just enough kindling to light a fire underneath the Nats’ electrifying offense. Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run double immediately following the Harper tossing, and the remainder of the Nats proceeded to break the game wide open.

And the fun did not stop there.

In the following day game, Harper redeemed himself with a first inning two-run shot and then the third home run in a back-to-back-to-back-to-back sequence that transpired in the third. In total, the Nats hit five homers in that third inning and eight in the game. In route to a 15-2 victory, Washington shattered club records and tied numerous MLB records.

This raised the question. Is this the best Washington Nationals team of all time?

Offensively speaking, it is getting pretty hard to argue otherwise. But to dig deeper, let’s take a look at the Nats’ stats from 2011 on.

**2017 statistics are through July 27. Highlighted years = NL East Champs.

The 2012 team came out of nowhere to win the NL East and make baseball in D.C. relevant again. That team finished with the best record of any Nats team at 98-64 and the best team batting average at .261.

Then there was last year, when six players hit 20 or more home runs and blew away opponents with a +151 run differential. The 2016 team hit the most home runs out of any Nats’ team in history (203) and had a run differential that was 32 more than the 2012 dark horse edition.

It wasn’t just the explosive of ‘See you later’ taters, however, that propelled this best ever question. Through the first 100 games in 2017, the Nationals have piled up 563 runs with a combined .279 batting average. Despite injury after injury, the lineup has produced.

The roster has five players batting above .300 and a 3-4-5-6 quartet that destroys pitching staffs after a few times through the order. Of course, that would be in reference to Harper-Zim-Murphy-Rendon; all of who should have 20 or more homers by end of the season.

Harper is on another MVP campaign trail similar to that of 2015 when he crushed 42 home runs and batted .330. Washington missed the postseason because he was the only player who hit more than 20 homers or above .300.[1]

And for as bad as the bullpen has been this season, the Nats still have a positive run differential of 119. Right now, the Nats are on pace to have the best offensive statistics ever since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005.

As of now, it seems that the 2016 version of the Nats can be considered the best when looking at the statistics. However, many still have emotional attachment to the 2012 team and how close they came in the playoffs. But the argument for either season being the best ever may soon be eliminated if the 2017 Nats continue at this trajectory.

If 2017 does supersede the 2016 squad in stats or 2012 in record, then the only thing left to do to make them the most beloved Nats team ever is to win a playoff series, and maybe more, in October.