Washington Nationals: DoD Staff 2019 Season Predictions
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.”