Nats' Harper, Strasburg named co-NL Players of the Week

This is precisely what the Washington Nationals envisioned when they made their first-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010.

Nats right-hander Stephen Strasburg and slugger Bryce Harper, who were selected by the Nats in successive years as the franchise's first-round picks, respectively, were named co-National League Player of the Week on Monday for the past week of Sept. 14-20.

Harper, who has compiled an MVP-caliber season this year, continued his hot hitting with a tirade of home runs that slotted him in elite company in MLB history for hitting 40 or more home runs at 22 years of age or younger.

In seven games last week, the 22-year-old right fielder hit .519/.576/1.111 with five home runs and 10 RBI in 27 at-bats.

He is now hitting .343/.470/.674 with 41 home runs and 95 RBI in 142 games this season.

While Harper maintained his elite form, Strasburg's standout performance last week was a reversion to the premier pitching he's shown in spurts over his six-year career.

The 27-year-old righty only allowed one run in two starts last week while striking out 24 batters, including a 14-strikeout performance on Tuesday that tied a career high set in his major-league debut in 2010.

In his pair of starts last week, Strasburg maintained a 0.60 ERA over 15 innings while holding batters to a .135 average.

(h/t MASN Sports)