The Nationals face a tall order over the final series of the season, as they’ll run into the powerhouse Astros in this year’s World Series. To an extent, it feels like the Nats are playing with house money after the brutal start to the season. But this team has been knocking on the door for years and doesn’t want to waste its opportunity to cash in fully with its own star-laden roster.
Here are the 25 players who’ll appear in uniform for the D.C. organization:
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Javy Guerra
- Daniel Hudson
- Tanner Rainey
- Fernando Rodney
- Joe Ross
- Anibal Sanchez
- Max Scherzer (probable game 1 starter)
- Stephen Strasburg (probable game 2 starter)
- Wander Suero
Left-Handed Pitchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Catchers
The Nats have tweaked their pitching staff several times throughout the postseason, but haven’t yet added to the number of arms they’re carrying. It’ll again be eleven pitchers for the Washington club, with hopes that the team won’t need to rely much at all upon several of them.
Southpaw Roenis Elias moves off the roster after being added for the NLCS. Presumably, the team decided the extra lefty wasn’t needed for the lefty-leaning Astros, though having the additional match-up option might have been nice. Right-handed reliever Wander Suero takes his place. It’s notable that Suero has had success against both right and left-handed hitters, though his bottom-line results this year didn’t quite match up to his promising peripherals and the club hasn’t trusted him with a postseason appearance since a rough showing against the Dodgers.
Like Elias, Hunter Strickland was acquired at the deadline in hopes he’d contribute. But the righty is again off the roster after a rough NLDS showing. That leaves Hudson as the lone mid-season trade piece who’s contributing; his good work has been pivotal. The Nats are also still carrying Cabrera, who was signed just after the trade deadline and played a big role down the stretch. He has not been utilized much in the postseason, but could see added opportunites with Kendrick expected to DH for games in which that slot is available.
Meanwhile, the Nats have made a somewhat unexpected move with their long man role. Austin Voth is off the roster; he had been a potential long man but wasn’t needed in the NLCS. He’ll be replaced by Ross, who is a candidate for similar duty. Ross has also been tasked with pinch running at times in the past and might also be used in that capacity.
I’ll take Astros for the win
is Elias healthy yet?
Astros in 6 but I really hope the Nats win. Just think the Astros and the AL in general are stronger
Look at the AL vs NL records against each other this past year
I’d say the AL is more top heavy but the NL is more balanced so Total league vs league records are pointless. For the Astros, Yankees, Twins, you also have the tigers, orioles, White Sox, royals, mariners…
Blue Jays….
This is a valid point. Hopefully the AL can fix this issue quicker than it looks like they will.
Total league and interleague records are ABSOLUTELY NOT pointless.
Tigers, Jays, Orioles, ChiSox, M’s all have the payroll flexibility to move themselves up in a few years. I think it’s just the current state we’re in now. It’s not hard to imagine the leagues flip flopping in strength in a few seasons. Particularly with the number of NL teams with some large contracts on their payrolls for quite some time.
Giving the Astros two wins is Generous. They still have the worst bullpen in baseball.
Maybe one win… if they’re lucky. Hopefully a sweep so we don’t have to hear three days of that annoying baby shark song in DC.
Russian troll, don’t let this bot hurt your feelings. Nationals in three! Go Nats!
It’s best of 7.. have to win 4 games for the Ring.. what kind of baseball fan doesn’t know that.
I’m going with the National’s because I cannot stand the Astros! they should’ve stayed in the National League!
They should have and the brewers should have went back to the AL.
But, they just proved how weak the al west can be.
But, I like them 100% more than the nationals. They should have stayed in Canada and I would have rooted for them to win. The expos were a team. This is just 5 times the charm team in DC. They suck and lucked into a World Series but had too much down time with a better offense and defense than they dealt with before.
Astros in 4… maybe 5 games.
You don’t luck into a World Series.
1. That baby shark song is catchy as hell. Learn to lighten up.
2. You have no idea what you’re talking about.
“They lucked into the World Series”
Besides the Hader imploding inning, the Nats have played excellent baseball for a good while now. They deserve to be in the series. Good for them.
“They should of stayed in Canada”
As much as I miss the Expos as well, there was no chance. Olympique Stadium is a coffin where baseball goes to die.
Maybe another Expos team can be established in the future. One can hope.
Either way, lighten up. This is going to be a great World Series. No Dodgers, Red Sox, or Yankees in sight.
Says the dingle berry. Licking in and getting hot at the right second and the better teams entire outfield in broken (brewers)
Taking down the doyuers was poetic justice.
Cardinals were just a weak team. They had no challenge in the nlcs
Meanwhile the Astros were challenged all the way through.
Now, go back to your safe space.
As far as the expos. That bs 94 strike and the firesale killed the team and the fan base. They were loyal and strong prior to that.
Nobody claiming the Nats should have stayed in Montreal should be referencing a “safe space”. The 7 fans left in that city can’t support a baseball franchise at any level.
As a longtime Expos fan, they didn’t draw well even before ‘94. There were a lot of issues not the least of which was the addition of the Blue Jays. Toronto eventually took most of the baseball fans in Canada. They skated by for years on Bronfman money. After he sold to the Brochu consortium, they had to penny pinch. As it was, if they weren’t going to be contracted a move was necessary for survival. To say nothing of the sub-par television and radio contracts.
Why Javy Guerra continues to make the roster is beyond me. He is straight gasoline. I would rather use Voth. Unproven, yes, but I already know what Guerra gives me and it is bad. Of course if any of these down the rung relievers get in the game, it probably is already out of hand.
Astros in 5 but won’t be surprised to see a sweep.
I don’t think people realize how good the nationals are. Since end of May they have best or second best record in baseball. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if nats won in less than 7. Don’t get me wrong, cole and verlander are incredible, but scherzer and Strasburg are prettt good too last I checked. Along with Corbin and anibal they can pitch toe to toe with Houston. Astros will need to play better than they did vs NY to win. This has the same feeling as the capitals winning it all in 2018. I’m an Os fan but it’s cool to see the dmv excited about baseball. Pulling for the Nats
I feel same way ….. just hard to get over how good Cole verlander have been
If Astros had to go to 7 i would see Nats winning
If they can win one in Houston they’re in great shape
Does anyone want to still tell me that “Flowers is a better catcher than Suzuki.” All you need to do is listen to what Scherzer had to say and that ends the debate for good. Furthermore, all you need to do is look at the way he caught in game 1 of the World Series and some of the pitches he called and some of the blocks he made, yet I was told on here by one contributor that “Flowers is a better catcher”-he isn’t and the Braves made a mistake with both Suzuki and Sanchez. The Zuk is a better catcher and hitter by far.
The same GM felt Yan Gomes did not have a future as a catcher in the MLB, traded him to Cleveland with Mike Aviles for Esmil Rogers and felt JP Arencibia was the catcher of the future. The very same GM who overpaid for Russell Martin. Yes Sid Bream, the Braves made a mistake and I agree with you.