Washington Nationals 2018 Season Review
Once again, the Washington Nationals are set to enter the season with high hopes. Will this be the year they finally get over the hump and make the World Series?
The 2017 campaign was yet another disappointment for the Washington Nationals. Yes, they ran roughshod over the NL East yet again, winning the division by 20.5 games and only spent three games without a share of first. Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were legitimate Cy Young candidates. It seemed like a successful year in a bubble.
However, this was yet another season where the Nationals were unable to come away with the grand prize. They have yet to even appear in the World Series, let alone win the championship. Last year marked the fourth time in the past six years that they reached the postseason, and they have failed to emerge from the NLDS.
Perhaps this will be the year. The Nationals did not make many moves this offseason, mainly because they did not need to. The pitching staff is a strength, particularly in the rotation. Washington’s offense should be able to put up quite a few runs once again. Maybe a new approach with manager Dave Martinez, who spent years as Joe Maddon‘s bench coach, will get the Nationals over the hump.
Once again, it is World Series or Bust for the Washington Nationals. With Bryce Harper in his walk year, the pressure to win will be even higher.
Washington Nationals additions and subtractions
Key additions: Matt Adams, Miguel Montero
Newcomer to watch: Miguel Montero. The duo of Matt Wieters and Jose Lobaton were not exactly what anyone would refer to as offensive threats last season. Nationals catchers produced a combined 208/.275/.319 batting line with 14 homers. Their .594 OPS was the worst in baseball. It was plainly obvious that Washington needed an upgrade behind the plate.
While they have reportedly been interested in acquiring J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins, that has yet to come to fruition. Instead, the Nationals have looked to upgrade that position in the lineup by bringing in Miguel Montero, another catcher coming off of a down season in 2018.
Once a solid power threat behind the plate, Montero has struggled in the past two years. Last season, split between the Cubs and Blue Jays, he produced a meager .216/.310/.346 batting line with only six homers. And yet, that production was better than what the Nationals got from the catcher spot last year. Until they find a more permanent solution, Miguel Montero may play a significant role in the Nationals lineup this year.
Biggest losses: Matt Albers, Adam Lind
Biggest loss: Matt Albers. The Nationals have a solid trio to close out games with Sean Doolittle, Brandon Kintzler, and Ryan Madson. However, it was Matt Albers who may have been their best reliever last season.
A relatively solid middle relief option, Albers emerged as the primary setup man in Washington last season. In his 63 appearances spanning 61 innings, he notched a 1.62 ERA and a 0.862 WHiP, striking out 63 batters with just 17 walks. Even though he was not typically used to close out games, Albers even picked up the first two saves of his major league career last season.
Chances are, Matt Albers is not someone that would immediately come to mind as being vital to the Washington Nationals success last season. However, on a team that had a few question marks in the bullpen, he proved to be a valuable contributor, someone that solidified the relief corps. His departure could prove more costly than it would appear.
Expectations for the Washington Nationals in 2018
The Washington Nationals own expectations are the same – make it to the World Series and bring the franchise their first championship.
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That road is going to be a bit harder this season. While the Marlins are tearing down the roster, the Mets and Phillies have both added talent to their rosters. The Braves are getting closer to the young, dynamic team they envisioned. The Nationals are not likely to win the division by more than 20 games once again this year.
However, the Nationals are still the class of the NL East. Their rotation, fronted by Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, has one of the best duos in the game. The lineup should remain formidable, with Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon, and a resurgent Ryan Zimmerman in the middle. Should Trae Turner stay healthy in the leadoff spot, and Victor Robles proves he is ready for the majors, the Nationals offense could be impressive.
That is not to say they are without holes. Catcher is still a major hole in the lineup. The bullpen is talented, and has three pitches with closing experience, but there are still injury concerns. However, those problems may not be difficult to overcome, with a few key trades before the deadline.
Next: Nationals top ten prospects
Once again, the Washington Nationals are dreaming of making the World Series. However, they need to advance beyond the first round first. Prediction: First place in NL East