In A Rotation Of Aces, Who Will Be Number One?
By Pablo Roa
Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Another option is right-handed pitcher Doug Fister, whom the Nationals acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers earlier this offseason.
Fister, 29, had a great year with the Tigers last season, going 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA and a 3.61 K/BB ratio in 208 2/3 innings. Fister is mostly a ground ball pitcher (54.3 percent in 2013) who doesn’t walk many, averaging only 1.90 BB/9IP.
In Fister, the Nationals acquired a veteran pitcher who has already had plenty of postseason success and knows what it takes to take his team to the playoffs, something that the Nationals are certainly expected to do in 2014.
No doubt Fister has what it takes to be the team’s ace, but the fact that 2014 will be his first season in the National League makes it very unlikely for him to get the Opening Day nod. Nonetheless, Fister insists that it will not be an issue and that he’ll be ready to face anybody in 2014.
"“My modest opinion is that I’m going to come out here and attack hitters the same way I attacked them in the American League and let them tell me if something needs to be changed,” Fister said."
The acquisition of Fister made an already great rotation even better and he’ll be a key player for the Nationals in 2014, regardless of where he pitches in the rotation.