WASHINGTON — There is no surprise that the starting rotation of the Washington Nationals, led by Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, has helped carry the team to first place in the National League East standings heading into the All-Star break.
And there is no reason to believe that the first-place Nationals (54-46), who are six games ahead of the New York Mets, won’t rely on the two standout right-handers to try and capture a third division in the past five years.
But the Nationals have not been without their challenges with the rotation in the first half. And their offense has improved, with contact-hitting Daniel Murphy in essence replacing strikeout-happy Ian Desmond in a lineup that has six players with at least 10 homers.
If the Nationals are going to pull away from the Mets and Miami Marlins in the second half it will most likely be starting pitching that takes them there. Washington is second in wins in the National League to the San Francisco Giants.
Tanner Roark (3.01 ERA) has been consistent in the first half as a starter after he spent most of last year in the bullpen. With the All-Star break approaching he was used out of the bullpen for 2 1/3 innings of hitless ball Sunday against the Mets in a 3-2 win.
Veteran Gio Gonzalez went seven starts in a row without a win at one point, but the Nationals may be willing to give some leeway to their only lefty starter in the second half.
Strasburg, who signed a contract extension in May, won his first 10 decisions then was on the disabled list from June 26 to July 3 with an upper back strain.
When he came off the DL it was another starter, Joe Ross, who went on the DL with right shoulder inflammation. Ross made his big league debut in June, 2015 after he was called up from Double-A Harrisburg.
“We just got our rotation back and Joe went down. We will see how it works” in the second half, said Dusty Baker, the first-year manager for the Nationals.
Prized rookie Lucas Giolito, also up from Harrisburg, made his big league debut June 28 as he took the turn of Strasburg in the rotation. Giolito threw four scoreless innings then filled in for Ross on Thursday in New York against the Mets, but was hit hard in his second outing as he couldn’t get out of the fourth and was sent to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Strasburg was one of four Nationals to make the original All-Star team, along with right fielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy and catcher Wilson Ramos.
The All-Star game will be played in San Diego, where Strasburg grew up. But he was replaced on the active roster on Friday by teammate Scherzer. Strasburg can take part in pre-game activities but won’t pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
“He is elated to be part of the All-Star game,” Baker said of Scherzer. “He is a good representative.”
Strasburg (2.62 ERA) is the first National League pitcher to win at least his first 12 decisions in a season since 1912 after he allowed just two hits and one run in seven innings in a 3-1 win on Friday over the Mets.
“Boy we needed that,” Baker said.
Scherzer also allowed just one run seven innings in a 6-1 win Saturday over the Mets.
Strasburg now hopes to pitch the first game after the break for the Nationals, which is at home Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“How you set up your rotation for the second half is equally important to us,” said Baker, who could have Scherzer ready to pitch against the Pirates even he does throw in the All-Star game.
Baker has taken the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds to the playoffs.
Now in his 21st year as a manager he will try to do the same with the Nationals, who have never won a postseason series. Washington lost in the playoffs in 2012 and 2014 after winning the East each time.
The Nationals have led the National League in homers for much of the first half and set a season-high with six homers at home July 3 as the summer humidity settled into the nation’s capital.
“It is a welcome place to play. I have seen a tale of two stadiums (at Nationals Park). When it is cold (the ball) doesn’t travel. When it is hot (the ball) travels like heck,” Baker said.
One interesting second half development could be how the Nationals use infielder/outfielder Trea Turner, one of the top position prospects in the game. He was called up last August and saw action at short (his normal spot) and second base down the stretch.
Turner recently began playing center fielder at Triple-A Syracuse before he was called up to the Nationals on Friday. Baker may be hesitant to use him in center during a pennant race, though Turner started at second base on Sunday while Murphy started at first against the Mets.
“Trea has done a nice job in his brief time in center field,” according to Mark Scialabba, the director of player development for the Nationals. “Gary Thurman, our outfield and baserunning coordinator, worked with Trea in Syracuse to ensure he is learning the basic fundamentals of playing centerfield. He’s a gifted athlete with great aptitude so he made adjustments naturally and quickly. He’s able to range well in both directions and close on balls by utilizing his elite speed.”