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Atlanta Braves vs. the NL East in 2017: Washington Nationals.

By Alan Carpenter

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) prepares to pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) prepares to pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 7, 2016; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) is removed from the game with an apparent right arm injury during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. I had my choice of such photos.  Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2016; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) is removed from the game with an apparent right arm injury during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. I had my choice of such photos.  Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Be Careful Out There

So Washington will lead with Scherzer, Strasburg and a lot of bats.  With or without Wieters, their offense features probably the most formidable lineup short of the Cubs in the Nationals League – particularly if Harper figures out what plagued him during much of 2016.

Like the trade or not, having Eaton and Turner leading off the order is going to be a devastating combination that will set the table for Murphy, et al.  This club will score runs in bunches… and they may indeed have to play to outscore the opposition at times.

More from Tomahawk Take

This may have been their strategy this off-season after losing out on Chris Sale.

The keys for Washington for 2017 will be twofold:

  • Can they stay healthy?
  • Can their starters last long enough to keep the bullpen from losing too many games for them?

If there’s any issues with Strasburg or if Gonzalez doesn’t pitch any better, then it may not matter how many runs the Nats score as the bullpen could keep the late innings quite interesting.

All that said, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Nationals finish lower than 1st in the NL East… certainly not below second.  That would require injury to their horse – Mad Max – who has racked up almost 1700 innings in the past 8 seasons.

It’s not quite “2017 or bust” for the Nationals:  with Turner, Eaton, Scherzer, and Strasburg, they have a core locked up for several years yet.  So even if Harper is traded in another year or something, they aren’t going to be in terrible shape.

Werth comes off the books after next season, which frees $21.5 million… and Harper has his third (of 4) arbitration years this time ’round, so he’ll be expensive too.  So Washington will have money to spend after 2017.

Next: Let's Get Smithy...Somewhere

They just may have to wait for that inevitable trade of Harper to get back the pitching supplies they now desperately need.

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