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Washington Nationals’ Starting Rotation Is Proving Elite Status

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Max Scherzer Nationals

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals‘ starting pitchers, Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister, haven’t produced up to their potential so far in 2015, but that may be changing. Entering this past weekend’s four-game series against the New York Mets, the Nationals’ starters ERA was 3.79, but if you removed Scherzer, who has been dominant this season, that number ballooned to 4.52. Against the Mets, the Nationals’ rotation won three of four while they allowed a combined three earned runs in the four games and, as a result, have dropped their combined ERA down to 3.33. It looks like the entire rotation has found their groove, and if that’s true, the rest of the National League better watch out.

The Nationals still haven’t found any kind of consistent offense this season, and more than likely they won’t with the way the lineup is constructed; but when the rotation pitches the way they’re capable of, it’s irrelevant. There is no other pitching staff in the league that has the ability to carry their entire team for prolonged stretches of the season like the Nationals do. Gonzalez and Fister won Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with each only getting one run of support from the Nationals’ offense. It was the first time in the Nationals/Expos 46-year franchise history that they had been victorious 1-0 in back-to-back games. That stat proves exactly how dynamic these five guys can be and why the Nationals are still favorites to win the NL East division.

This rotation has the capabilities to set all kinds of records this season. They will mask the inadequacies of the rest of the 25-man roster and carry the Nationals to another division championship. The question is, will they get any help this year once in the playoffs?

Jason Fletcher is a MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.

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