Nationals poised to avoid disappointment
Since coming to America’s capital city from Montreal, the Washington Nationals have been a giant tease.
Washington was supposed to be good when it landed Alfonso Soriano and Adam Dunn last decade, but failed to ever crack the .500 mark during the Frank Robinson years. Finally, things started to turn in 2012, when the team went from 80 to 98 wins, taking the National League East. However, rookie Bryce Harper and his charges would fall in an epic five-game NL Division Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, the eventual world champions.
After a wildly disappointing 86-76 campaign in 2013, Washington rebounded to once again take the NL East with 96 wins, but the playoffs would have the same result. The San Francisco Giants crushed the Nationals in four games in the NLDS and went onto win the World Series.
Following the signing Max Scherzer last offseason, most thought that Washington was all but guaranteed a World Series berth with Scherzer heading up a rotation that included Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister. Unfortunately, the entire thing fell apart under the overwhelmed Matt Williams, with the team winning only 83 games.
In 2016, things finally appear to be clicking for this group. After firing Williams in the offseason and hiring veteran skipper Dusty Baker, Washington is off to a blazing 14-6 start, giving it a one-game lead over the New York Mets. New York is going to be formidable throughout the series after winning the National League in 2015, boosting a rotation that includes Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom. Still, the Nationals have enough talent and a steady, guiding hand in the clubhouse which could make all the difference come the final stretch of September.
While the pitching will keep Washington in the race for the duration, it is the sweet swings of right fielder Bryce Harper that could put it over the top. Harper won the NL Most Valuable Player award last season, hitting 42 home runs with 99 RBI while walking 124 times compared to just 131 strikeouts.
This season, Harper is on pace to shatter those marks. He currently leads the team with nine homers and 24 RBI while hitting .318. In the walks/strikeouts department, Harper has 13 free passes against nine punchouts, showcasing an otherworldly ability to make contact and hit for power while maintaining a great eye at the dish.
With Harper anchoring a dangerous lineup and the rotation as deep as any in baseball, the Nationals have all the pieces to make a title run. There is certainly plenty of heavyweight fighting to be done, with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and Cardinals all looming.
The NL playoffs will be a dog fight, but for once the Nationals appear ready to take on the challenge instead of shrinking from the moment.
