Washington Nationals: 5 potential 2018 x-factors

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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.

Bryce Harper

Since he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 16, the spotlight has been on Bryce Harper. However, the lights will shine even brighter in 2018.

Now 25, Harper is about nine months from embarking on the most anticipated free agency case of all-time. The superstar will presumably receive a contract worth $400-500 million, which would shatter the record for most lucrative contract ever.

Before Harper possibly becomes a free agent, he has one more season under contract with the Nats. Because of what is looming with Harper, 2018 is a fateful season for him as well.

Contract seasons are tricky, because players tend to either have a career year or choke under the pressure. Harper has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, so, assuming he remains healthy, there is little concern about him choking.

Harper having a career year is a much more likely scenario. He produced a historic season as a 22-year-old in 2015, yet he may be even better in 2018.

According to his workout partner, Joey Gallo, Harper is as focused as he has ever been. If all of his off-season preparation leads to in-season results, he may strengthen his free agency case even more.

Harper is a generational talent, and has the potential to put the Nats on his back. If he is able to remain healthy in 2018, he could play a big role in bringing a parade to South Capitol Street.

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.

Koda Glover

As things currently stand, the Nats have arguably the best bullpen in team history. Although Koda Glover is a big question mark, he could play a major role.

He burst onto the scene just a year after being drafted, and has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his time in the big leagues. However, like Strasburg, injuries have held him back.

Hip issues plagued him in 2016 and the beginning of 2017, then back and shoulder injuries ended his 2017 season in July. If he is healthy, Glover is dominant. Unfortunately, that has proven to be a big if thus far.

With Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, and Brandon Kintzler locking things down in the late innings, Glover does not need to fill a late-inning role. He could, however, be a dominant middle reliever.

A quartet of Glover, Kintzler, Madson, and Doolittle would be among the best in the league, and any lead after five innings would likely be safe. Or, the Nats could create two “separate” bullpens.

Considering Glover, Doolittle, Madson, and Shawn Kelley have all proven to be exceptionally injury-prone throughout their careers, they could use extra days off. If the Nats wanted to, they could form a couple different bullpen committees, which could protect these relievers’ health.

For instance, Kelley, Glover, and Doolittle could serve as “Bullpen A”, while Sammy Solis, Kintzler, and Madson form “Bullpen B”. This is unorthodox, but with a forward-thinking manager, such as Dave Martinez, it is plausible.

Glover is a tremendous talent, and could potentially play an enormous role in the ‘pen. The Nats must do whatever it takes to keep him healthy and productive.

Trea Turner

Although the Nats have plenty of power in the lineup, speed creates offense. Teams tend to live and die by the home run in today’s game, and the Nats cannot fall into that trap.

For this reason, Trea Turner is an integral member of the lineup. The young stud broke onto the scene in 2016, instantly transforming the Nats’ offense, and has established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the league.

Unfortunately, Turner was held back a bit in 2017. He fractured his wrist after being hit by a pitch, which forced him to miss two months. He eventually returned, but was not the same. While watching him struggle was frustrating, it was certainly understandable.

In true DC sports fashion, Turner’s struggles were on full display in the postseason. He recorded just three hits in the NLDS, and appeared lost at the plate. Non-coincidentally, the Nats’ offense struggled mightily. Similar to Dexter Fowler and the 2016 Cubs, the Nats go when Turner goes.

Despite missing two months and struggling towards the end of the season, Turner stole an incredible 46 bases. He ranked third in the majors, behind only Dee Gordon and Billy Hamilton, which is especially impressive considering the time he missed.

If Turner is able to remain healthy in 2018, he will once again be among the most dynamic players in the league. If the Nats are going to finally exorcise their postseason demons, they need a productive Turner in the lineup everyday.

Adam Eaton

Last off-season, in arguably the most heavily criticized move in team history, the Nats traded for Adam Eaton. They gave up three of their top pitching prospects, but they believed he could be a difference maker at the top of the lineup for years to come.

Eaton got off to a tremendous start to the season, quickly silencing his doubters. He and Turner formed a dynamic duo at the top of the lineup, leading the way in one of the most potent lineups in the league.

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Unfortunately, Eaton’s first season in the nation’s capital came to an abrupt end in late-April when he stepped on first base awkwardly, tearing up various parts of his leg. There was talk of him possibly returning for the postseason, but his only contributions were as a supportive teammate in the dugout.

Now, nearly a year after his gruesome injury, Eaton is ready to return.

Michael Taylor did a phenomenal job of filling in during Eaton’s absence, and earned himself a starting job in 2018. Although Eaton played a solid center field throughout April, he will now primarily play left field. This move may be for the better, considering Eaton’s defensive metrics are better as a corner outfielder.

Although Turner has the potential to be an elite leadoff hitter, Dave Martinez has named Eaton the Nats’ 2018 leadoff man. This is the correct decision at this point in their careers, because Eaton sees a lot more pitches. Turner certainly has the speed, but is not a prototypical leadoff hitter.

If Eaton is able to return to form in 2018, he will be an excellent leadoff hitter and left fielder. However, there are concerns since he has not played in nearly a year. Only time will tell what he is able to produce.

It’s a shame Eaton got hurt last year, because he was off to an outstanding start, but he is more than capable of returning to form and putting together a fantastic season. If this is the case, he could lead the Nats on a deep postseason run.

Next: A.J Cole tabbed as fifth starter

If the Nats are able to finally exorcise their postseason demons in 2018, it will take a total team effort. However, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Koda Glover, Trea Turner, and Adam Eaton are five potential x-factors to keep an eye on.

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