Washington Nationals: September storylines to follow

Despite the obvious results, there are important stories for the Washington Nationals to follow this month. Here are five.

The end of the marathon is at hand with the Washington Nationals entering September. Less than 30 games remain on the schedule as their return visit to the playoffs all but assured.

Over the next four weeks, there are questions and storylines that not only will determine what happens after the regular season but in the years ahead. Despite playing out the string, these games are important. The grand scheme of 2017 remains set, but the dynamic of the fall and offseason are set over the next month.

With fall approaching, and another Redskins season dawning, your attention will drift elsewhere. Still, the Nats have unresolved loose ends that will settle before October rolls around. Will Max Scherzer place himself in a position to win another Cy Young? Does Teddy finally win a mascot race?

Seriously, how does a team who has been on top by a comfortable margin since May stay focused and prepare for the toughest part of the season? With only the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers on the schedule with winning records, the Nats play mostly teams with nothing to play for except pride. That is a grind.

As the sun sets earlier and the rosters expand perhaps to 40, September promises to provide answers to questions some do not want to ask.

With that in mind, here are five storylines to watch as Washington moves through the end of the regular season. A mix of today, tomorrow and the future.