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Washington Nationals: Nationals All-Star Pitching Candidates

By Ross Shinberg

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: Players line up for the national anthem prior the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: Players line up for the national anthem prior the 89th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Nationals Park on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
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Starting Pitcher Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer is first and foremost on our list.

Please don’t get fooled by his 4.08 ERA, Scherzer is pitching like the best pitcher in baseball.  I can say that confidently because his 1.7 WAR is a top-five mark in baseball.

Scherzer still boasts otherworldly stats:  His 12.02 K/9, 1.36 BB/9, and 2.15 FIP shine the brightest on his FanGraphs.com page.  It’s also notable that Scherzer is inducing more ground balls than ever before, as his 44.1 GB% is seven percentage points higher than his career average.

The incredible part is that Scherzer is getting unlucky.

Scherzer’s .377 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is nearly 100 points higher than his career average.  Also, his 65.5 runners left on base percentage (LOB%) is 11 points lower than his career mark.

When those numbers regress toward the mean, Scherzer might have the best statistical season of his career.

It should come as no surprise that if that happens, he’ll be starting the All-Star Game for the National League for the third consecutive year.

With a seventh All-Star appearance, and perhaps a fourth Cy Young award, Scherzer will move closer and closer to becoming the first player with a Curly W on his cap in Cooperstown.

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