Starting Pitching: B-
While the best pitching performance of the month was Scherzer’s 20 strikeout game against the Detroit, he still had the second highest ERA of any pitcher on the staff as he went 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA in six outings. Still, his 60 strikeouts were ten more than anyone else on the staff (Stephen Strasburg had 50).
Speaking of Strasburg, he kept his undefeated record in tact as the Nats have won 15 straight games he has started dating back to last season. The right-hander, who got a seven-year, $175 million extension earlier in the month, was 5-0 with a 3.11 ERA in six starts. Plus, he had three double-digit strikeout games, including 11 K’s in two of those games.
When you look at the Nats’ success in the rotation, it has been their two pitchers at the back end of the rotation in Tanner Roark and Joe Ross. Roark was 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA in six starts, but he ended the month giving up four runs in his final three outings. As for Ross, he was 2-4 with a 3.32 ERA in six outings, but he gave up three runs or fewer in five of those six starts.
Even though the Washington Nationals’ starting five was not as strong in May, they still are getting good contributions from the back end of the rotation and Strasburg is continuing his progression from last season. Now, the Nats need Gio Gonzalez to get back on track. The left-hander had a 5.23 ERA in six May starts and has allowed 13 runs in his last two games.
Next: Bullpen