Washington Nationals: 5 potential 2018 x-factors

Stephen Strasburg

Throughout the Nats’ glory days, they have typically been built on pitching. Max Scherzer is obviously the biggest name in the rotation, but Stephen Strasburg is just as important, if not more important to the Nats’ success.

The former first-overall draft pick has put together a solid eight-year career so far, but has often been held back by injuries. Down the stretch in 2017, we finally got a glimpse of what Strasburg can do when healthy.

Between August and September, Strasburg pitched 35 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. Amazingly, he topped this outstanding performance in October.

In two games against the Cubs in the NLDS, Strasburg pitched 14 innings, allowing just six hits and no earned runs. He was so dominant that Anthony Rizzo went as far as to say that Strasburg was the best pitcher he had ever faced.

Now, Strasburg is an integral part of the Nats’ rotation. Scherzer is aging and may begin to decline soon, Gio Gonzalez is erratic at times, Tanner Roark is coming off of a down year, and the Nats do not have a proven fifth starter. All things considered, Strasburg may be the most important pitcher on the team.

If Strasburg is able to remain healthy in 2018, he could produce the best season of his career. He was arguably the best pitcher in the league throughout the second half of 2017, and that may have been a precursor of what is to come this year.

Assuming Strasburg is able to remain healthy, he and the Nats are in for a big year.