Nats looking to take big offense against Atlanta into huge series vs. Mets (Ryan Zimmerman update)

The Nationals have come within four games of the first-place New York Mets thanks in part to their rejuvenated offense. The Nationals toppled the Braves 8-4 on Sunday, finishing with 36 runs in the four-game sweep.

Right fielder Bryce Harper slammed his 34th homer of the season, one of three roundtrip shots the Nationals hit in the win Sunday.

"Our whole team is swinging the bat right now," Harper said. "One through nine I think everybody's having really having good AB's, doing what we need to do as a team. I'm just out there trying to help out and (do) the things I can to win ballgames. That's all I care about."

Manager Matt Williams said Harper has displayed tremendous patience and focus at the plate the last month.

"I think it's ... his stroke is under control as evidenced by the last couple of games," Williams said. "Granted, the balls are going out of the ballpark. But the telling at-bat is the one to left in the last at-bat today. He's under control. He's seeing it well. He's got good knowledge of the strike zone. If he gets the proper pitch, then he has a chance to hit it over the fence. But if you try to force it, it doesn't happen very often."

"We've just been playing good baseball," Harper said. "I think in St. Louis, I think we could have possibly won three out of three out there, too. We just (have) to keep doing what we're doing, keep having fun, keep having good at-bats and just be the team we are. That's all we can ask for the end of the day.

"You just go to play the 27 outs that you can. Do the things that you can to win ballgames. Bunt guys over, getting guys over, pitching well, try to get out of the big innings and not try to (allow) big innings. Play our game, do what we can."

Left fielder Jayson Werth, who has been hitting from the leadoff spot, hit his seventh homer of the season, a three-run shot that was part of a five-run second inning, leading to a 5-1 advantage early on.

"I think more than anything we got everyone playing together," Werth said. "Zim doing what he's been doing, Tony (Rendon's) getting hot. Losing Denard (Span) was tough, but Matt inserts me up at the top of the lineup and so far that's been working. I just think we are finally clicking, and when you haven't played and haven't played together, it takes some time to really get it rolling. Hopefully, we can snowball from here."

Williams confirmed after the game that first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was scratched due to soreness in his left foot. He missed 40 games earlier this season due to plantar fasciitis, but Williams expects him to return against the Mets.

"Foot's a little sore," Williams said of Zimmerman. "It's one of those things. We can't get him over that threshold to where it just won't go away. So little sore after yesterday. We gave him today. We stayed off him as much as we possibly could today and it worked out. He'll be good to go tomorrow."

Zimmerman was not available today, but center fielder Michael A. Taylor returned from his sore right knee. He delivered two hits, reached base four times and had a key two-run double during the Nationals' early onslaught.

"Big double," Williams said. "Early double for us that got us on the board. He just continues to play well. He's not 100 (percent), but he's getting closer and closer. He didn't have any problems today banging it around, diving back into base and going into a base. He's progressing well."

The Nationals raced out to 5-1, 7-1 and 8-2 leads for starter Joe Ross. That big early advantage provided Ross some wiggle room to throw any pitch he wanted.

"It's a huge advantage," Ross said of quick scoring from the offense. "A lot of confidence in just going out there, you don't have to be too perfect, just going after hitters. If you give a run, two runs, three runs, you're still OK. In closer games, that's obviously not the mentality you want. But when you get a good lead like that, it makes it easier as a starter for sure."

The Nationals scored 36 runs in the four games. Back in early August, they scored only five total runs against the Mets. Facing them again Monday with right-hander Max Scherzer on the mound, does that help give the offense extra confidence against the Mets' strong starting pitching?

"No, because I know these guys will say the same thing that whether they do well or don't do well, they are always confident the next time they come up that they are able to have success," Scherzer said. "It's really pointless to look at it like that."