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Atlanta Braves vs. NL East Position by Position 2020 Preview: Second Base

By Steven Teal

SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during a team workout at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during a team workout at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2020 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Starlin Castro #14 of the Washington Nationals. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Starlin Castro #14 of the Washington Nationals. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Washington Nationals

Fangraphs projected WAR at 2B: 1.7 (Castro and Kendrick)

As I mentioned earlier, Starlin Castro had a good 2019 season and it earned him a 2-year, $12 million contract with the Washington Nationals.

Just to refresh your memory, Castro finished 2019 with a slash line of .270/.300/.436 with a .736 OPS. This included 31 doubles, 22 home runs, and 86 RBI across 159 games.

He was fairly good defensively at second base in 2019 with 3 DRS and a 0.4 UZR in 117 games. He has decent range and a pretty good baseball IQ so I’m sure he’s the obvious choice for the Nationals to start on Opening Day.

However, I’m assuming that Washington plans on (or at least they should consider) platooning him with Howie Kendrick. Shoot, after the year he had, I’d be starting him.

Kendrick was phenomenal for the Nats during the regular and postseason. He finished 2019 with a line of .344/.395/.572 with his OPS at a ridiculous .966 in 121 games played. His defense wasn’t much to write home about but good enough to get the job done.

When you break down the splits for each player in 2019, we see how a platoon wouldn’t be a bad option.

Castro killed left-handed pitching in 2019 as most Atlanta Braves fans remember.

In 174 plate appearances, Castro slashed .323/.351/.530 with 9 home runs and 21 RBI against left-handed pitching. His numbers against RHP pale in comparison at .252/.283/.403 through 502 plate appearances.

Kendrick, however, was excellent against both RHP and LHP in 2019.

In 244 plate appearances against RHP, Kendrick slashed .327/.381/.548 with 11 homers and 63 RBI. Compare that to his splits against LHP at .376/.421/.615 with 6 homers and 26 RBI in 126 plate appearances.

I think it’s safe to assume Castro will get the bulk of playing time as he is a bit younger at 29 years old compared to Kendrick who is 36. But that seems to be a role Kendrick was born to play because he was incredible for Washington last season.

Either way, the Nats did a great job filling the second base position this offseason.

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