Washington Nationals: 10 greatest individual seasons
By Ron Juckett
DOUG FISTER 2014
After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Nats knew they needed another front line starter. In December, they shipped off three players to Detroit for Doug Fister.
Fister was a deadline deal for the Tigers in 2011 with the Seattle Mariners. Behind his 8-1 record, Detroit won the American League Central. In 2012, his 3.45 ERA matched with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to propel the Bengals into the World Series.
By 2013, Fister wore out his welcome. How a 14-9 pitcher does that is a mystery, but his 1.308 WHIP earned him a trade.
The match between Washington and Fister worked, for one year. Behind his 16-6 record and 2.41 ERA, he propelled the Nats back to the playoffs while finishing eighth in the Cy Young vote.
A fly ball machine, allowing 18 homers over 164 innings, his ability to pound the strike zone into submission worked wonders. Fister walked a scant 24 hitters while fanning a mere 98. That year, he was the ultimate pitch-to-contact player.
His opus came in his last regular season start, a doubleheader opener against Miami on September 26. As he entertained those watching at Nationals Park, Fister twirled a three-hit shutout. He struck out a season high of nine without allowing a walk. Donovan Solano had all three hits, including a triple.
Fister won his lone playoff start that year tossing seven scoreless in Washington’s only win against the San Francisco Giants.
His 2015 was poor and Fister moved on to Houston and, later, Boston. Never the same pitcher, his 2014 goes down as a legendary season.