WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Nationals led the league in wins last year with 96, have the most wins in the past three years in the National League and enter this season with the best starting rotation in the game.
The Nationals are a World Series favorite among many pundits. But the big question is: can this club win a post-season series? It is something the franchise has never done, with first-round losses in 2012 to the St. Louis Cardinals and last year to the San Francisco Giants, also in the NLDS.
The club shocked many when they signed free agent pitcher Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract in January as the right-hander left Detroit for the nation’s capital. It seemed to be an embarrassment of riches, but there is a method to the madness: right-hander starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister are free agents after this season and Stephen Strasburg is under team control through the end of 2016.
Throw in that All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond, an original member of the Montreal/Washington franchise, and center fielder Denard Span are also free agents after this season and this year takes on the character of 2012 when then-manager Davey Johnson declared “World Series or Bust.”
Matt Williams, now in his second season as manager, is much more guarded with his comments so don’t expect any such declarations from the National League Manager of the Year.
Entering spring training there seemed to be little suspense as the team’s eight starting regulars seemed set. And the only question mark among the starting staff was if Tanner Roark had any chance to beat out lefty Gio Gonzalez for a spot in the rotation. He didn’t.
But outfielder Jayson Werth has not fully recovered from right shoulder surgery in January. And then center fielder Denard Span, who set a franchise record for hits last year with 184, had right core muscle surgery on March 9 and won’t be ready until early May.
And third baseman Anthony Rendon (.287, 21 homers, 39 doubles), who had perhaps the best season of any Washington player in 2014, dove for a ball on March 9 in a spring training game and injured his knee. Werth and Rendon may not be ready for Opening Day. With all of the outfield injuries the Nationals traded one of their few lefty veterans in the bullpen — Jerry Blevins — on Monday for Mets’ outfielder Matt den Dekker.
So there has been plenty of suspense this spring when it comes to the makeup of the 25-man roster. Nationals’ fans can only hope there is more drama come October.
ROTATION:
RHP Max Scherzer
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
RHP Stephen Strasburg
LHP Gio Gonzalez
RHP Doug Fister
Zimmermann has been the consistent starter for years for the Nationals while Strasburg is a former No. 1 draft pick with perhaps the best collection of pitches. But it will be Scherzer who will lead the rotation in his first season in Washington.
Zimmermann and Fister are free agents after this season while Strasburg is signed through 2016. The Nationals have control of Scherzer for seven years after he signed a free agent contract with the team in January. If any of the starters is injured the Nationals can turn to Tanner Roark, who won 15 games last season as a starter. Washington also has young A.J. Cole waiting in the wings if needed, and Blake Treinen can also start.
BULLPEN:
RHP Drew Storen (closer)
RHP Aaron Barrett
RHP Craig Stammen
LHP Matt Thornton
RHP Tanner Roark
RHP Blake Treinen
LHP Xavier Cedeno
The Nationals lost nearly a combined 200 innings out of the bullpen as they bid goodbye to former closer Rafael Soriano, All-Star Tyler Clippard and Ross Detwiler. Clippard was traded to the Oakland A’s for second baseman Yunel Escobar while Detwiler, a former starter, was dealt to the Texas Rangers for prospects.
Washington will turn to the closer role over to Storen, who took over for Soriano in early September. Janssen is a former closer for the Blue Jays who is expected to be a setup man in the eighth, though Stammen and Thornton could also be used in that inning. The Nationals traded veteran lefty reliever Jerry Blevins on March 30 to the New York Mets for outfielder Matt den Dekker. Janssen appears likely to miss the first part of the season with right shoulder inflammation.
LINEUP:
1.
CF Michael A. Taylor
2.
2B Yunel Escobar
3.
RF Bryce Harper
4.
1B Ryan Zimmerman
5.
SS Ian Desmond
6.
C Wilson Ramos
7.
LF Tyler Moore
8.
3B Danny Espinosa
The Nationals entered spring training with pretty much a set lineup. But Werth had surgery in January, Span had surgery in March and second baseman Yunel Escobar has been slowed by injuries as well so Moore, Taylor and Espinosa could be in the lineup on Opening Day.
Lost in all of this is the move of Ryan Zimmerman from third base to first base. And Bryce Harper makes the move from left field to right field, with Werth heading to left when he returns. So much for a spring with little suspense.
RESERVES:
C Jose Lobaton
INF/OF Kevin Frandsen
OF Matt den Dekker
OF Clint Robinson
INF Ian Stewart or 1B/OF Mike Carp
There is a good chance the Nationals will begin the season with three expected starters on the disabled list: Span, Werth and Rendon. That means roster spots for the bench should go down to the last minute.
With Tyler Moore and Danny Espinosa in the mix to start Opening Day, that could create a bench role early in the season for den Dekker, Robinson, Stewart and Carp. Carp is a veteran lefty swinger who played first base for the Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2013. Robinson has had an impressive spring and gives the Nationals another left-handed bat — something they need after Adam LaRoche left via free agency to the Chicago White Sox.