Washington Nationals should consider a late-season six-man rotation
By Tim Boyle
A six-man rotation hasn’t caught on in MLB. In 2018, the Washington Nationals have reason to use one late in the season.
The Washington Nationals should open the year with a rotation featuring Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg as the number one and two guys. Behind them, we’ll see Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. In the fifth spot, A.J. Cole enters Spring Training as the favorite.
This is the expected five-man rotation for the Nationals in 2018. When the year ends, will they still only have five starters?
The idea of a six-man rotation has been an option for several teams in MLB. No one has perfected it. Often, it has even failed. Pitchers are creatures of habit. Disrupting their rhythm has ill-effects.
While it’s not the best idea to purposefully disturb whatever routine their pitchers have, the Washington Nationals may want to consider a late-season six-man rotation. If everyone is healthy, they should have the resources to do it.
Six-Man Rotation Plan for the Washington Nationals
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The names listed above are key to the Washington Nationals’ success this season. Max Scherzer will defend his Cy Young Award. Stephen Strasburg will attempt to live up to his contract. Gio Gonzalez will pitch for his next deal and Tanner Roark will do his best to stay in the rotation, possibly setting up a big payday down the road. Finally, A.J. Cole will fight for his MLB life.
A wrench does enter the plan when Joe Ross returns from Tommy John Surgery. The Nationals have no need to rush him back. However, if he is good to go, a six-man rotation may help him ease back into facing big league hitters.
This six-man rotation plan will do more than help Ross. Strasburg’s injury history stands out. If the Nationals can save him three starts and help him keep a couple innings for the postseason, they’ve positioned themselves favorably in October. One way to accomplish this is using a six-man rotation.
Scherzer is another guy I worry about. After five straight years of tossing over 200 innings, it’s time to get cautious. Scherzer is no young dog. It’s important to acknowledge his age and protect him when baseball matters most: the playoffs. Without his presence in the postseason, the Nationals don’t have a chance.
Why the Washington Nationals can pull it off
One look at the National League East, it’s pretty clear the Washington Nationals have an easy walk to the postseason. We shouldn’t expect them to take it easy, but we should at least hope they are smart.
In a situation like last season, when they had the division virtually locked up by August, I would like to see them try a six-man rotation. Too much has gone wrong for this franchise in the NLDS, which unfortunately is as far as they’ve made it.
There is one major caveat to this plan. Only if the Washington Nationals have nothing to play for other than pride and they have reliable starting pitching should they employ a six-man rotation.
Next: Nats bench has something to prove
Otherwise, it’s business as usual for the Washington Nationals in 2018. Although, it’s not the worst thing in the world to allow their starters to miss a game or two in September.