Washington Nationals 2016 Fantasy Preview

Mar 20, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Nationals 2016 Fantasy Preview

The Nationals have the talent to win the World Series. They really do. The clubhouse self-destructed last year. Is it all better with Matt Williams out and Dusty Baker in? We will find out very soon!

Washington Nationals 2016 Projected Starting Lineup:

C: Wilson Ramos (.229, 15HR, 68RBI)
1B: Ryan Zimmerman (.249, 16HR, 73RBI in 346 AB)
2B: Daniel Murphy (.281, 14HR, 73RBI with NYM)
SS: Danny Espinosa (.240, 13HR, 37RBI, 5SB in 367 AB)
3B: Anthony Rendon (.264, 5HR, 25RBI in 311 AB)
LF: Jayson Werth (.221, 12HR, 42RBI in 331 AB)
CF: Ben Revere (.306, 2HR, 45RBI, 31SB with PHI/TOR)
RF: Bryce Harper (.330, 42HR, 99RBI, 6SB)

Ramos has good pop in his bat, but he may never hit for a good average. That said, he is still a career .258 hitter, so there is hope that he can hit .250. If he does, he is worth starting in standard leagues. He is a solid pick late in your draft.

Zimmerman moves across the diamond which should help him stay healthy. He still puts up decent numbers, and is worth taking a chance on in the late-middle rounds of your draft. He wont hit 40 homers again soon, but he may hit 30 with an average around .280 if he can stay healthy. That is a big if though. Zimmerman has only played 156 games over the last two years combined.

Stephen Drew was a disaster last year, so he will serve as a backup as the Nationals go get the proven Daniel Murphy. Murphy is a solid asset at a shallow position, and is worthy of a ninth or tenth round pick. He could put up even better numbers in Washington.

Espinosa has a nice power/speed combination, but he still can’t hit big league pitching with any consistency. He is best left for deep leagues until he figures it out, if he ever does.

Rendon was never really healthy last year. He seems to be in top shape this spring, and the optimism is back. He has good power and good speed. He is a solid option at third base, just be aware that you are drafting largely on potential, though he showed flashes of what he could be in 2013.

Lots of Nats fans (and fantasy owners) would be happy if the team would just play Michael Taylor (.229, 14HR, 63RBI, 16SB in 472 AB) full time. He had a great spring, so if you have a bench slot, I would keep him around to see how the playing time pans out. He could be an absolute steal if he plays everyday. As for Werth, I wouldn’t trust him outside of deep leagues.

Revere is a world-class speedster who is going to score a lot of runs in this lineup. If he can hit .300 again, he is essentially a poor man’s Dee Gordon, but he comes 100 picks cheaper. I have been targeting Revere in the ninth round of all my teams, and am happy to have him. You likely will be as well.

Harper came close to winning the MVP last year. If all of his clubhouse issues are in the past, he is a top three pick. He did all that damage last year in 527 at bats. If he get 600, he could flirt with 50 homers, and he isn’t even in his prime yet!

Next: How Will The Rotation Shape Up?

Mar 23, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws a pitch in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Nationals 2016 Projected Pitching Rotation:

Max Scherzer (14-12, 2.79 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 276K)
Stephen Strasburg (11-7, 3.46 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 155K in 127.1 IP)
Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.79 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 169K)
Tanner Roark (4-7, 4.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 70K in 111 IP)
Joe Ross (5-5, 3.64 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 69K in 76.2 IP)
Jonathan Papelbon (4-3, 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 56K in 63.1 IP, 24/26 saves with PHI/WAS)

Scherzer threw a no hitter in his last start of the season, and just missed a perfect game earlier in the season. He is option 1b to Clayton Kershaw, and the stats may be closer than you think. If you have to have an ace and you miss Kershaw, Scherzer is the next best thing.

Strasburg struggled a little last year, but he was dominant down the stretch. If he can do that over a full season, his numbers are going to be that of a fantasy ace. He can be had in the sixth round. I take him there ever time I can.

Gonzalez’s WHIP is not pretty, but he has decent numbers and gets results. He also piles up nearly a strikeout per inning. He is a suitable fourth starter for your fantasy team.

Roark can be good for spot starts, and he still has the potential to develop into a serviceable fantasy option. Keep an eye on his progress this year. The Nationals still believe in him, so he is worth watching. Just look at the team they have put together.

Ross is a solid pick to fill out your rotation in 12 team leagues. I would watch him because he has the ability to be standard league material, but he might not be there just yet.

The Nationals shipped out Drew Storen and handed the reins to the proven Papelbon. He has 349 career saves, and could hit 400 this year. He will get a lot of save opportunities, and with the friction gone between him and Storen, he could put up great numbers, even at the age of 35. He is a solid second tier option at closer.

Next: What Prospects Are Worth Watching?

Mar 9, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (44) throws during the eighth inning in a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

We will take a look at a few prospects that could crack the majors for the Nationals this year, and in what type of leagues you should be looking for them in. The Nationals have called most of their prospects up. Do they have any left? Let’s get started!

Lucas Giolito, RHP: Depending on which scout you ask, Giolito is the best prospect in the minors. He was brilliant in the Futures Game last year, and he looks ready to contribute in the majors. He will start the season in the minors, but he will be up as soon as the Super Two deadline passes. Keep him on your bench if you have the slot. He has a chance to really boost your team down the stretch.

Trea Turner, INF: Turner will be the guy that the Nats turn to if Espinosa gets hurt again or struggles. Turner hit .225 with a solo home run in 40 major league at bats last year. He will be up soon, and it worth rostering in leagues of 12 or more teams once he gets the call. He might even be worth a look in standard leagues by the end of the year.

Wilmer Difo, INF: Difo is plan B in case Turner struggles or they suffer a rash of injuries. Difo had two hits in 11 at bats last September, but he hit .286 in the minors. He is worth grabbing in deeper leagues if he gets enough playing time.

A.J. Cole, RHP: Cole struggled out of the bullpen last year, posting a 5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings. He has the chance to make the rotation if Roark struggles and Giolito isn’t ready. He is worth a look in deep leagues if he earns a rotation slot.

Austin Voth, RHP: Voth is not an overpowering pitcher, but he could be good enough to make his way to the majors this year. Even if he does, he likely wont be worth a look, even in deeper leagues. There are too many roadblocks in his way for him to contribute enough this year.

Next: MLB FanDuel Picks For Opening Day

Stay tuned for the rundown of every MLB team before Opening Day, our daily FanDuel picks, and the round by round picks for the NCAA Tournament!

Home/Fantasy Baseball