Fansided

MLB: 5 teams who need to finish May strong

By Robby Sabo

May 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA;Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA;Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Nationals, NL East

This one is just served up on a silver platter for discussion.

Thanks in part to the massive free agent signing of former AL Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer, the Washington Nationals came into the 2015 MLB season as the team to beat in the big leagues.

Equipped with one of the nastier rotations in years, as long as the lineup didn’t completely fall on its face, they’d walk away with the NL East crown.

However, that’s why they play the game.

The upstart New York Mets were the ones lighting the April world on fire, while the Nats struggled through awful defense (we’re looking at you Ian Desmond) and a mediocre lineup. They started with a shocking 7-13 record, seemingly already in trouble for playoff contention.

We all wondered if it would last. We all found out, it won’t.

Since a disheartening 8-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves on April 27, the Nats have started to sizzle and they need to continue that through the end of May.

For the month of May they’ve clubbed nine home runs while hitting .262. This pales in comparison to their .242 clip at the plate for the season.

Furthermore, the coming of age of Bryce Harper was just the medication this ball club needed.

Coming into Saturday, he’s hit .314 with five home runs and 13 runs batted in during his last 10 games. I’m confident this is making everybody who voted this 22-year old kid the “most overrated player in baseball” look just plain silly right now.

They’re currently in a three-game set with the Braves, and have more average ball clubs such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres on the slate during the month.

Even if you’re one of those lunatics who picked the Mets to win the NL East prior to the season (cough, cough), look for the Nats to keep on rolling.

Next: Number 4

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