5 reasons the Nationals will win the World Series regardless who they face

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Trea Turner #7 Anibal Sanchez #19 and Brian Dozier #9 of the Washington Nationals celebrate winning the NL pennant after a 7-4 win in Game 4 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Washington Nationals acknowledges Jose Martinez (not pictured) of the St. Louis Cardinals who singled to secure the first base hit of the game for his team during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on October 11, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

4. Anibal Sanchez, the secret weapon

If Anibal Sanchez had been able to complete his no-hitter, there may not have been a more unlikely postseason legend in MLB history. By all rights, Sanchez’s career should have been over after he limped to a 20-30 record from 2015-2017 with a 5.67 ERA in 88 games. The 35-year-old found a way to get himself back on track after latching on with the Atlanta Braves last year.

That quality season with the Braves bought Sanchez an even better deal with the Nationals — two years and $19 million — but he was still an afterthought in a star-studded rotation. The right-hander responded with 30 strong starts. Still, who would have pegged the unassuming Sanchez as a potential playoff hero?

Sanchez has allowed just one run in 12.2 postseason innings with 14 strikeouts and three walks. He has utterly baffled opposing hitters with his fluttering changeup and is a unique change of pace from the flame-throwing aces at the top of the rotation. His performance has allowed the Nationals to avoid shrinking their playoff rotation to three starters, giving some flexibility to the manager.

With a long layoff to rest their top starters before the World Series, the Nationals may no longer require a fourth starter. In that case, Sanchez should slide well into the bullpen to provide a multi-inning relief option for Dave Martinez. Sanchez became a bit of a punchline as his time with the Detroit Tigers came to an ugly end, but he’s going to have the last laugh in the World Series.

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