Will Nationals be able to shake off injuries to maintain control of NL East?

The National League East is playing out as expected, except for a minor detail.

The pitching-rich Nationals are the first-place team, but the general consensus at the start was that their lead would be bigger than the two-game margin they have over the New York Mets.

The Nationals and Mets are similar. Both have strong rotations, reliable closers and questions about the relievers that connect the two.

Also, each team is dealing with injuries to key players.

The Mets' overall ERA is 3.23, third-best in the NL, while the Nationals rank sixth at 3.56. Offensively, the Nationals have 372 runs, the Mets 310.

The Miami Marlins, a team that had a chance to contend after a rebuilt roster, have injuries and, unlike the Mets and Nationals, their first-half position is a disappointment.

The Atlanta Braves are happy with their rebuilding and could be making more trades at the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

The once-powerful Philadelphia Phillies, with the worst record in the National League, see hope in some of their young players, but they still want to clean house of the stars that made them the NL powerhouse last decade.

Here's the storylines when play resumes:

WASHINGTON: The Nationals have a two-game lead in the division with plenty of optimism, given that Stephen Strasburg (oblique), Jayson Werth (wrist), Ryan Zimmerman (foot), Denard Span (back) and Anthony Rendon (quad) should be back in the second half. ... The Nationals, though, might need bullpen help getting to closer Drew Storen, who was snubbed on the NL All-Star roster even though he has 27 saves. Will lefty Matt Thornton and right-handers Casey Janssen and David Carpenter be enough setting up Storen? Janssen, who relies on command, started the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis and Carpenter was acquired in a trade from New York after he struggled with the Yankees. Blake Treinen has shown improvement, but the other young relievers are question marks. ... The lineup doesn't have the same zing without Span and Rendon setting the table at the top. Span is in and out with a back injury and Rendon has played in 18 games, thanks to a knee and quad injuries. ... The Nationals might look for outfield depth considering the injuries to Span and Werth, whose target date for a return is Aug. 1. Rookie Michael A. Taylor has talent, but is he enough in case Werth and Span need breaks more often? ... With Max Scherzer leading the way, the rotation is one of the best in the NL. Jordan Zimmermann had his roughest patch as a National in the first half, but he's back to his old, reliable self. The biggest question is lefty Gio Gonzalez, but he improved his command as the break approached. ... Outfielder Bryce Harper, thanks to health and a maturing approach, is the NL's MVP, hitting .339 with a .464 on-base percentage, 26 home runs and 65 RBIs. ... Shortstop Ian Desmond's first half was marked by defensive errors and prolonged batting slump. Is his potential free agency weighing on his mind? ... And who would have thought that Danny Espinosa (.254-.331-10 home runs) and Yunel Escobar, who leads NL third basemen with a .321 average, would be the two best hitters behind Harper?

ATLANTA: The Braves started rebuilding before the season, and even though they entered the break with a five-game losing streak, the first half has been better than expected. ... The rotation is strong with a good future even though ace Julio Teheran wasn't consistent, having a 6.95 ERA on the road and 2.04 ERA at home. Shelby Miller, who has 2.38 ERA, is an All-Star workhorse after coming from St. Louis in a trade for Jason Heyward. Alex Wood has a 3.76 ERA. The Braves are also happy with the progress of prospects Mike Foltynewicz and Manuel Banuelos. ... The offense went from relying on home runs to one with less strikeouts, and manager Fredi Gonzalez likes the potential for a steady stream of hits instead of strikeouts. ... Outfielder Cameron Maybin, shaking off injuries and staying healthy, has been a nice surprise (.298 with eight home runs and 15 steals), but with prospects Jose Peraza and Mallex Smith close to being ready for center field, Maybin could be traded before July 31. ... The Braves also have other possible trade chips in Juan Uribe (right-handed bat) and Kelly Johnson (left-handed bat). ... The Braves were also willing to listen to offers for closer Jason Grilli, but he's out for the season with a left Achilles injury. Former Oriole All-Star Jim Johnson, who finished the first half with 16 consecutive scoreless appearances, is the closer, but he could be dealt to a contender. ... First baseman Freddie Freeman is out until early August with a wrist injury. ... Former Oriole Nick Markakis, his neck healthy, is doing well for his hometown team, hitting .293 with a .381 on-base percentage.

MIAMI: The Marlins are 13 games under .500 and 11 games behind the Nationals, and even if they get hot, they have a long road to contention. They won three of four from Cincinnati before the break, scoring 22 runs with 31 hits in the final two games, and they hope that momentum carries over. ... The Marlins stumbled early under the weight of expectations. Manager Mike Redmond was fired and replaced by Dan Jennings, a front office official who hadn't managed since he was a high school coach. ... The rotation, a potential strength, was hurt by injuries, as Jarred Cosart, Henderson Alvarez and Mat Latos spent time on the disabled list. ... Ace pitcher Jose Fernandez will be a second-half story as he returns from Tommy John surgery. Former Nat Dan Haren, 34, who threatened to retire before the season because he didn't want to move to Florida, was the Marlins' most reliable pitcher with seven wins and a 3.24 ERA. ... The Marlins may be on a dual path - buying and selling - as the trade deadline approaches, but chances are they aren't going to break up their nucleus. Latos, Haren and starter Brad Hand could be available on the trade market, but the young core of players will stay together: The Marlins have one of the best double-play combos in second baseman Dee Gordon (out with a hand injury) and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and catcher J.T. Realmuto is developing quickly. ... Marcell Ozuna was demoted to the minors, but the Marlins still believe in his ability. ... Martin Prado and Gordon should be back from the disabled list soon after the break. ... Another big blow for Miami came when the Marlins put Giancarlo Stanton, who had 27 home runs and 67 RBIs, on the disabled June 27 with a broken hand. He won't return until September.

NEW YORK: The Mets went into the break with 47 wins, the first time they've had that many since 2010. The Mets are amazingly hanging tough in the NL East, despite injuries and a lineup that has scored the second-fewest runs (310) in the league. ... The Mets have been without third baseman David Wright, who has played only eight games. Wright is expected back in the second half, but the team isn't sure when. Also, catcher Travis d'Arnaud has been limited to 19 games because of injury. He's got a .296 average. ... Outfielder Michael Cuddyer, hit .211 during June and has played in three games in July because of a sore left knee. Curtis Granderson continues to be a disappointment and Juan Lagares, the rangy defensive centerfielder, is hitting .256. ... The Mets are contending because of their rotation, led by All-Star Jacob deGrom, who is 9-6 with a 2.14 ERA. The rotation ranges from ageless Bartolo Colon to super prospect Noah Syndergaard. ... The bullpen will be stronger in the second half with the return of Jenrry Meijia from an 80-game PED suspension and the health of Bobby Parnell (0.90), making the bridge stronger to rookie closer Jeurys Familia, who has saved 27 of 29 games. ... Ace Matt Harvey has a 3.07 ERA and is coming back from Tommy John surgery. His innings total will be an issue when the season resumes. Harvey has thrown 111 1/3 innings.

PHILDELPHIA: The Phillies were expected to be bad and they have lived up to that reputation: They went into the break with a 29-62 record, the most losses they have had before the All-Star break in franchise history. ... The story with the Phillies is rebuilding and whether or not lefty Cole Hamels, (5-7, 3.63 ERA), first baseman Ryan Howard (.226, 15 home runs) and closer Jonathan Papelbon (14-for-14 in saves) will be traded before the July 31 deadline. ... Second baseman Chase Utley would have been another candidate to go in a trade, but he has inflammation in his right ankle and he's hitting .179 in 65 games. The Phillies might also be able to get something for outfielder Jeff Francoeur. ... But all is not lost: The Phillies are excited about third baseman Maikel Franco, who had 38 hits during June and 10 home runs in his first 55 at-bats; second baseman Cesar Hernandez, 22, who is hitting .280 with 12 steals; future closer Ken Giles, who has 110 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings setting up for Papelbon; and outfielder Odubel Herrera, who has a .310 average in his last 30 games.