Washington Nationals: Ryan Madson vital for success

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson was spectacular in 2017.  This upcoming season, his coaches and teammates will rely on him even more.

In the second half of the 2017 season, Washington Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson was straight-up dominant.  The 37-year-old posted a 1.25 ERA along with a 0.90 FIP.  Those two numbers suggest Madson’s ERA is perhaps a tick higher than what it should have been.  In other words, he was unlucky.

Specifically for the Nationals, he was arguably their best reliever.  Among Nationals relievers in the second half of the season, Madson ranked first in K/9, FIP, xFIP, and WAR.

In the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, Madson pitched four innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out four.

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For Nats fans, it should not be a stretch to consider Madson a vital part of the Nationals bullpen.  However, all Nats fans should realize how important he is to the entire team and their aspirations for October.

Madson is the best right-handed reliever the Nats have.  But not only that, he might be the only consistent right-handed option the Nats will have all year.

Brandon Kintzler was an All-Star for the Minnesota Twins and pitched well for the Nats, but he is a prime candidate for regression.  This is based on his low strikeout rate and below-average batting average on balls in play (BABIP).

Koda Glover will return, but he struggles with health and consistency.  Shawn Kelley had the worst statistical season of his career in 2017.  And likely one of A.J. Cole/Erick Fedde will round out the bullpen, but neither strikes fear in the hearts of opposing batters.

Outside of Madson, the Nationals might not feel great about using their other right-handed options.

There is one other thing Madson brings to the Nationals clubhouse and it is something they need more than ever: Championship winning experience.

With Jayson Werth likely not returning to the team, Madson will fill that role.  Madson is a two-time World Series champion with Werth and the 2008 Phillies and the 2015 Kansas City Royals.  Madson was also a part of the 2009 Phillies that lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.

He recorded a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings with 17 strikeouts during his three World Series appearances.

The only other players with World Series experience on the Nationals roster are Max Scherzer, Daniel Murphy, and Matt Adams.  The one distinction here is that Scherzer, Murphy, and Adams have a combined zero World Series rings.

Going to the fall classic is one thing.  Discovering the formula for winning it is another.

The Nationals were fortunate to have seven years of Jayson Werth’s experience and expertise.  With Madson turning 38 during the season, the Nats will be lucky to squeeze one or two more prime years out of him.

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With expectations exponentially mounting on the 2018 Nationals to “get the job done” in the postseason, Madson will be a significant cog in the machine if the job is indeed to be finished.