Preseason 2015 MLB Playoff predictions
NL East: Washington Nationals (102-60)
2014 finish: 1st in NL East (96-66), out in NLDS vs. San Francisco Giants
The Washington Nationals were the top team in the National League last season with a very impressive 96-66 record, but they fell hard to World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the ALDS. The Nationals were first in pitching last season led by Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman and Doug Fister and were ninth in hitting led by Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth, Denard Span and Bryce Harper.
Denard Span led the team in batting average and hits (.302, 184). Anthony Rendon had a breakout season (.287/.351/.473, 174 hits, 21 home runs) and will play third base for the Nationals this year. Bryce Harper only played 100 games after surgery on his left had sat him out for much of the beginning of the season but he had 96 hits in the 100 games and batted .273/.344/.423.
It looked like the Nationals really couldn’t get any better this offseason, but the signing of one man changed all of that.
Key additions: RHP Max Scherzer, 2B Yunel Escobar, RHP Casey Janssen.
Key losses: 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, RHP Tyler Clippard, LHP Ross Detwiler, 1B Adam LaRoche.
The Nationals signed 2013 AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) reach a deal with the Detroit Tigers to a seven-year, $210 million contract. Scherzer went 18-5 in 2014 with a 3.15 ERA and 252 strikeouts. The addition of Scherzer confirms that Washington has the best rotation in baseball, and I’d be shocked if they don’t produce a Cy Young winner this season.
The Nationals added 2B Yunel Escobar to replace Asdrubal Cabrera. Escobar had a .258 batting average in 2014 with the Tampa Bay Rays and had 123 hits in 137 games. The Nationals also added bullpen help with Casey Janssen, but he struggled last season with the Blue Jays after he gave up 47 hits in 50 games (45.2 innings). The Nationals lost a key reliever in the trade to Oakland to get Escobar. Tyler Clippard was an All-Star in 2014.
The Nationals will need solid bating from Rendon, Ian Desmond, Harper will need to stay healthy and hit around 30 home runs, and the Nationals will need Jayson Werth to stay healthy after a shoulder surgery and he’ll need to bat well considering he’ll likely be in the three-spot for Washington. If the batting can be solid, the starting pitching will take care of itself. The concern for Washington continues about their bullpen, but with starters this good, hopefully they won’t need to rely on relievers .
2015 team batting MVP: 3B Anthony Rendon
2015 team pitching MVP: SP Max Scherzer
2015 key under the radar player: SP Doug Fister
The Nationals will grab an easy NL East victory this season as long as they can stay healthy. I don’t see anyone touching this team and they’re my favorite to win the World Series and be the first team to win 100 regular season games since the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies. The key will be Anthony Rendon and Doug Fister, who will somehow be last in this stellar pitching rotation after a 2.41 ERA in 25 starts.