Washington Nationals: DoD Staff 2019 Season Predictions

Team M.V.P

Tom- Anthony Rendon

“Anthony Rendon, who will sign a contract extension with the Nationals in May. Rendon will become one of baseball’s household names on his way to a monster season that will finally land him a spot on the NL All-Star team.”

Ross – Anthony Rendon

“The safest pick for team MVP is Anthony Rendon.  Max Scherzer is a close #2, but the increase in opposition quality in the NL East leads me to think he’ll regress slightly.  However, the pitching in the NL East outside of Washington is relatively weak. Rendon will have a career year with the bat and finish in the Top 5 of the NL MVP vote.”

Danny – Trea Turner

“It would be really easy to go with Juan Soto, Anthony Rendon or Max Scherzer here. But for me, if this team is going to reach its full potential, Trea Turner is going to have to put up an MVP caliber season. Turner has given us a little taste of his skill set in each of the past three seasons. When he broke into the league in 2016, he hit for a high average, hit 13 home runs and stole 33 bags in just 73 games. In 2017, Turner played in just 98 games but stole 46 bags. In 2018, Turner played in all 162 games, but stole 43 bags, which was 3 fewer than he stole in 2017 despite playing in 64 more games. We all know that Davey has challenged Turner to attempt 75-80 steals this season. That may seem a bit lofty considering Turner’s previous high in attempts was 54 back in 2017. On the flip side, Turner has the speed to go almost anytime he reaches base, so maybe 75-80 attempts aren’t totally out of the question. Look for Turner to put it all together this season. According to Baseball-Reference, Turner’s 162 game average line is .289/.346/.456 with 20 home runs, 72 RBIs and 56 stolen bases. If he’s able to put those numbers up, not only will he be the Nationals team MVP, but he’ll be receiving votes for NL MVP.  ”

Ed – Trea Turner

“I’ve always thought that Trea Turner has been underappreciated throughout the league. With Bryce Harper gone, many Nationals fans believe it is time for Anthony Rendon to take the helm and lead this team. While Rendon and Max Scherzer may be the faces of the franchise, I think 2019 will be the year Trea Turner breaks out on a national level. Turner’s numbers have increased every season, and when he gets on base few people in the league can do as much damage as he can. Manager Dave Martinez has spoken publicly this spring about Turner and the numbers he wants him to put up in the steals and attempts category. Martinez has also said that he likes Turner batting leadoff. This combined with continued improvement in the field and in the batter’s box, I think the Nationals team MVP in 2019 will be Trea Turner.”

Matt – Stephen Strasburg

“For the Washington Nationals to achieve their ultimate goal of winning a World Series this season, they will need a strong year from 30-year-old right-hander Stephen Strasburg. It is hard to believe this will be Strasburg’s 10th season in the Nations Capitol, and in my opinion, it will be his best. Strasburg will place top five in the National League in strikeouts, E.R.A. and innings pitched en route to winning his first Cy Young Award of his career.”

Most Improved Player

Tom – Brian Dozier

“Brian Dozier. While most are picking Atlanta’s Josh Donaldson as the division’s biggest bounce-back candidate, it will be Dozier who returns to form due to superior durability and defensive skills.”

Ross – Brian Dozier

“The Most Improved Player will be Brian Dozier.  Like I said, the NL East pitching is relatively weak outside of a trio of superstar pitchers (Nola, deGrom, Syndergaard).  Dozier is a veteran, so I trust he will make the necessary adjustments and get back to above a 120 wRC+ with the Nats.”

Danny – Ryan Zimmerman

“There a plenty of different candidates for a potential most improved player on this team. A couple of weeks ago my answer would have been Michael A Taylor, but his recent injury changes things. Another option would be Ryan Zimmerman. Following an All-Star campaign in 2017, Zimmerman was unable to stay healthy in 2018. If Zimmerman can stay healthy in 2019, I look for him to be a very productive part of the lineup. But I’m going to go a different route for my most improved player this season. I think new second baseman Brian Dozier will have a bounce-back year in 2019. Dozier struggled in 2018 for both the Twins and the Dodgers. I believe a combination of consistent at-bats and a new team and environment will bode well for Dozier. Let’s not forget that in 2017 Dozier hit .271 with 34 home runs and finished 11th in AL MVP voting. Oh, and he also won a Gold Glove that year at 2nd base. Nationals fans are going to enjoy watching him play the field this year, and I think he will be the Most Improved Player.”

Ed – Stephen Strasburg

“This may sound odd for a pitcher coming off a season where he posted a 2.3 WAR, according to Fangraphs, but Stephen Strasburg is going to put it together this season and be the Nationals most improved player. Strasburg pitched to a 3.74 ERA last season, which was the highest of his career and pitched in just 130 innings, which was his fewest since 2015. What do ya know, 2015 was also the last time the Nationals missed the playoffs. I don’t think anybody is asking him to start 30+ games and throw 175+ innings during the regular season this year. What the Nationals do need from him is for him to be his old self when he’s out there. In seasons where the Nationals have made the playoffs, Strasburg has averaged 28.5 starts. In seasons where the Nationals have missed the playoffs, Strasburg has averaged just 25 starts. Those 3 extra starts this season could be the difference between a division title and a wildcard birth, or even a division title and completely missing the playoffs. The additions of Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki may also help Strasburg stay on track. In fact, during Suzuki’s first stint with the Nats, he caught Strasburg 13 times. In those 13 games, he pitched to a 3.27 ERA, which was a full tenth of a run lower than games in which Matt Wieters caught Strasburg over the past two years. Little adjustments in his pitch selection will get Strasburg back on track this season. Look for him to go 14-6 with a 3.35 ERA this season through 28 starts. Optimistic? Maybe, but it’s not like Strasburg doesn’t have the talent to make that happen.”

Matt – Adam Eaton

“There are many great candidates for Nationals Most Improved Player including Brian Dozier, Stephen Strasburg, and Ryan Zimmerman, but I think Adam Eaton is the guy who improves the most at the end of the season. If he is able to stay on the field Eaton can be the guy that takes the Washington offense from good to great. For the first time in his Washington career, I believe Eaton is able to stay healthy and play 140+ games, leading to him hitting .300 and scoring a career-high 105 runs.”

Bold Prediction 

Tom- Nationals finish at least five ahead of Atlanta.

“Washington will finish at least 5 games ahead of the defending NL East Champion Braves, who failed to address several glaring off-season needs. Atlanta will especially regret letting their 2nd-best starting pitcher from 2018 (Anibal Sanchez) and starting catcher (Kurt Suzuki) end up on the division rival Nationals.”

Ross – Brian Dozier hits 30 home runs.

“My bold prediction for the Nationals this season is that Brian Dozier rebounds and hits 30 home runs for his new team.  I was so excited that the Nats signed him and (still) can’t believe how little people seem to talk about him. He’s going to be a household name in D.C. sooner rather than later.”

Danny – Ryan Zimmerman has a rebound season.

“In 2017, Ryan Zimmerman stayed healthy through a season for the first time since 2013. We all saw what a difference a healthy Zim made in the Nationals lineup when he put up a .303/.358/.573 slash line with 36 home runs and 108 RBIs. Zim tumbled back down a little bit last year as he struggled to stay healthy, but his .824 OPS shows that when he was on the field, he was still productive. I don’t know that Zim will be able to re-produce 2017’s campaign, but as long as he’s healthy, he’s going to hit. My bold prediction is that Zim stays healthy, suits up for around 135 games this season (for comparison, he played in 144 in 2017) and puts up a .288/.352/.510 slash line with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs. He’s one of the keys to the Nationals season and along with Brian Dozier, he could help this Nationals lineup surpass the 191 home runs that they hit last season.”

Ed – Nationals finish with six All-Stars.

“My bold prediction for 2019 is that the Nationals will have 6 players named to the All-Star game. I believe that Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Sean Doolittle, and Patrick Corbin will all make the All-Star team as pitchers, with Juan Soto, Trea Turner, and Anthony Rendon making it as hitters. 6 All-Stars on a team that lost Bryce Harper would be a pretty incredible accomplishment and it is something I think could definitely be in the cards for this team. Barring any injuries, all 6 of these players are capable of being at the top of the league at their respective positions. So come July 9th in Cleveland, be on the lookout for some curly W’s.”

Matt- Nationals win 98 games tying the franchise record set in 2012.

“This may be even more than just a bold prediction bordering on a pretty crazy one, but I believe the Nationals will match their 2012 record winning 98 games. I think this is the best starting rotation Washington has ever had, and their top three starters will all finish in the top seven of the National League Cy Young voting. I think Washington has a lineup that will put the bat on the ball and avoid strikeouts, and Juan Soto and Victor Robles will more than fill the void left by Bryce Harper’s departure. This Nationals team is deeper than they ever have been, and are destined to do great things in 2019.”

Nationals’s regular season record and season finish. 

Tom –  92-70. N.L. East Champs.  Lose in World Series to Houston Astros.

“Washington will be in a dogfight with the Mets early in the season before New York fades due to injuries, while Philadelphia will the serve as the primary competition for the Nats until mid-September. In the end, Washington’s superior starting rotation and bullpen will prove to be the difference as the Nats clinch a fifth NL East title in the last eight seasons.”

Ross – Win between 86 and 90 games – #1 Wild Card Spot.  Lose in NLDS to Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I think the Washington Nationals will finish as the #1 Wild Card team and host the Wild Card game.  The N.L. East is so tight that the Nats, Phillies, Braves, and Mets will all eat into each other’s win count on a near-weekly basis.  This caps the upside of all of the teams, so the division winner will more than likely be the #2 or #3 seed in the playoffs. However, I do believe the 2nd place NL East team will host the Wild Card game because all of the teams are so good and will crush it outside of division play.  As for an actual prediction, I will say the Nats win the Wild Card game behind Max Scherzer but fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS once again.”

Matt- 98-64.  N.L. East Champs  Defeat Houston Astros to win 2019 World Series.

“For the second straight year there is going to be a parade in Washington D.C., but this time it won’t be for the Washington Capitals. This Nationals team is going to break through in the playoffs in a big way, winning the National League East, in route to winning their first World Series in franchise history. Washington’s pitching will guide them through a tough first playoff series matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies, an NLCS matchup with the Chicago Cubs, and eventually the World Series against the Houston Astros. The vibe around this Nationals team is something they have not had since their move back to D.C. They are confident and flying under the radar, and that is how they like it. So save some money for World Series baseball in Washington D.C. this October, the Nationals are going to be there.”

Danny- 90-72.  N.L. East Champs. Lose to Chicago Cubs in NLCS.

“The Nationals are going to have a tough road ahead of them this year in the ultra-competitive NL East. The days of blindly walking into a division title are over. The Braves won the East last year and remain a young and exciting club, though many question if they did enough to keep up with the rest of the East. After signing Bryce Harper to a record-setting contract and trading for another NL East foe, JT Realmuto, the Phillies have improved their team immensely. The Mets made huge strides as well in improving both their lineup, with the additions of Robinson Cano and Jed Lowrie, as well as to the bullpen by bringing in Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia. With that being said, each of those teams have question marks. Do the Braves and Phillies have strong enough pitching (both rotation and bullpen)? Can the Mets rotation stay healthy? The door is open for a Nationals team with a bunch of new faces to win this division. I think the Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez additions help bring the division title back to D.C. Oh, and on top of the division title, the Nats finally break through to the NLCS, but ultimately lose to the Cubs in 7.”

Ed- 92-70.  Lose in NLCS.

“I have high hopes for the 2019 Washington Nationals. With a full season of Juan Soto and Victor Robles, the additions of Brian Dozier, Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki, I think that overall the lineup is improved compared to a year ago. Both the bullpen and the starting rotation are also both significantly better in 2019. Kyle Barraclough and Trevor Rosenthal give the Nat’s much more depth on the back end of the bullpen, but also allow other members of the bullpen to slide into a more suitable role. Matt Grace and Wander Suero are both capable arms who will now pitch in lower leverage situations. And of course, the recent addition of Tony Sipp gives the Nat’s a true lefty specialist, a role that Sammy Solis wasn’t able to fulfill. And maybe the biggest improvement that has been made this offseason is to the starting rotation. By adding Patrick Corbin, Anibal Sanchez, and bringing back Jeremy Hellickson, the Nationals have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball. Because of the improvements in all three facets of the game, I predict that the Nationals will finish the season 92-70 and eventually lose in the NLCS.”