Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez is loving life at the moment.

And what’s not love?

The Nationals entered the All-Star break atop the NL East standings, four games ahead of the Atlanta Braves.

Gonzalez has been a huge part of the team’s early season success. The 26-year-old compiled a 12-3 record with 118 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA in the first half of the season.

“The first half has been extremely fun, especially with the way the guys are swinging the bat,” Gonzalez told LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes Monday afternoon on 106.7 The Fan. “The bullpen doing a great job of shutting it down.”

But he is also quick to note that it’s not how the Nats started the season that will matter. It’s about how they finish.

“Hopefully we can stay strong and healthy and ready to go after this break,” he added regarding the team’s hopes of making the postseason for the first time in franchise history.

As for what the team’s plans are after they shut down Stephen Strasburg?

“You never know, leave it up to [Mike Rizzo]… He knows what he is doing,” said Gonzalez.

Strasburg said earlier in the day he was unaware of any inning limit the team was planning to impose on him. Despite reports the Nationals were planning to bench Strasburg once he pitches a certain number of innings this season, the former No. 1 overall pick said the team hasn’t told him that was their plan.