The Washington Nationals accomplished something which hadn’t happened in 50 years in the National League.
The Washington Nationals, for the first time in 50 years in the National League, have three starters with 200+ strikeouts.
To say that the Nationals starting rotation has been formidable would be an understatement. The three starters are Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. They have led the Nationals pitching staff to the 11th best team ERA in the majors at 4.31.
The three pitchers have a combined record of 36-16. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA and 200 strikeouts. Strasburg is 16-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 215 strikeouts while Corbin is 11-6 with a 3.19 ERA and 201 strikeouts.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
These three have definitely helped keep the Nationals in the running for a playoff spot as they are currently 3 1/2 games ahead of the closest team in the Wild Card race and any three of those pitchers would be a formidable Wild Card game starter.
As far as WAR goes for the three pitchers, Scherzer is No. 1 in the NL and Corbin and Strasburg rank 4th and 5th respectively. In fact, the three of them are in the top 10 of many leading stats for NL pitchers.
Speaking of the Wild Card, let’s take a look at the potential matchup if the season would end today. The Nationals and the Chicago Cubs would be facing off in the winner take all Wild Card game.
More than likely the starting pitchers would be Scherzer for the Nationals against who knows for the Cubs. Conventional wisdom would say start, Jon Lester, as he has the big-game experience, but he hasn’t pitched the best this season.
Despite this I would assume they still go with Lester, but have either Cole Hamels or Kyle Hendricks at the ready should something go wrong. I also think this isn’t the Cubs year and that the Nationals will win this Wild Card matchup, should it be the one that actually happens.