Washington Nationals: 5 potential 2018 x-factors
By Drew Douglas
2018 appears to be a fateful season for the Washington Nationals. Here are five potential x-factors for the big year.
The Washington Nationals have been among the best teams in the league for several seasons now, but they have yet to advance past the National League Division Series. Their window to win is supposedly coming to an end in the near future, which is mostly based upon Bryce Harper‘s uncertain future, but that is not the case.
The Nats have a couple outstanding outfield prospects, Victor Robles and Juan Soto, who can step up if Harper departs after 2018. They also have a solid core, featuring Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg, who will remain in DC past 2018.
Regardless of if their window to win is closing or not, 2018 is a fateful season for the Nats. All of the dejecting early postseason exits have put the fanbase on edge, and the team is desperately in need of a postseason series win in 2018.
With a new coaching staff in place, led by former World Series champion Dave Martinez, this could be the year the Nats finally make it over the hump. The NL East has the potential to be historically weak, so the Nats are all but guaranteed to make the postseason, but they must deliver in October.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at five potential x-factors as the Nats attempt to exorcise their postseason demons.