Fansided

5 reasons the Nationals finally get past the NLDS

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 29: Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on September 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

1. Strasburg and Scherzer

Stephen Strasburg went 6-1 with a 0.86 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 62.2 innings after the All-Star break. Max Scherzer finished the year 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA and was only stopped short of 300 strikeouts by a few minor injuries. There has not been a pair like this topping a playoff rotation since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling led the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series in 2001.

Strasburg and Scherzer are easily the best one-two punch in the playoffs this year, and the Cubs will have to beat them at least twice to get through the NLDS. The way the pair of right-handers are throwing the ball right now, that’s way too much to ask a lineup that deals with long stretches of inconsistency in the regular season.

The Nationals might forever regret shutting down Strasburg in the 2012 postseason, but it did keep him healthy. He has now put together back-to-back 15-4 seasons with nearly 11 strikeouts per nine. Strasburg has been at his best in the second half in each of the past two years, getting stronger as the year goes on.

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The Cubs must beat Gio Gonzalez in Game 2 to have a chance to take down the Nationals. Then they will have to find a way to win two games against Scherzer and Strasburg in the remaining four games of the series. Dusty Baker has never been shy about riding his starting pitchers in the postseason, and he has the horses this year to get the job done. The Cubs will not win two games against the Nationals dominant duo.

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