Ranking the NL East: Starting Pitchers
By Pablo Roa
Jan 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer speaks during an introductory press conference at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
1. Washington Nationals
While the NL East is loaded with starting pitching talent, there’s no doubt that the best rotation in the division belongs to the Nationals.
In 2014, the team’s rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez led the Nationals to their second NL East title in three years. That rotation was arguably the best in the game last season and even if general manger Mike Rizzo hadn’t made any moves this winter, it probably still would’ve entered the 2015 season as one of the best in baseball.
Despite the incredible depth of the rotation, Rizzo wasn’t satisfied and he made his already dominant pitching staff even better by signing free agent Max Scherzer to a 7-year, $210 million deal last month.
Scherzer, of course, is one of the best pitchers in baseball. The right-hander won the Cy Young award in 2013 after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA. He was almost as good last season, going 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA. Scherzer joins a rotation that already had a dominant 1-2-3 of Strasburg (13-11, 3.14 ERA), Zimmermann (14-5, 2.66 ERA) and Fister (16-6, 2.41 ERA). Gonzalez wasn’t bad either, going 10-10 with a 3.57 ERA.
The Nationals’ rotation is so deep that it looks like Roark–who went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA last season–will spend the 2015 season in the bullpen.
With the addition of Scherzer, the Nationals now have four starters who could probably be No. 1 guys on any pitching staff in baseball. With Gonzalez in the back of the rotation and Roark ready to return from the ‘pen if needed, the Nationals not only have the best rotation in the NL East, but they also have the best rotation in all of baseball.