NOAH KRAVITZ
It's fair to point out that the starting rotation for the Nats throughout the last few years have been very eerie for fans to watch.
During the magical World Series run in the year 2019, the team had arguably the best mix of starting pitchers that they ever had. A main three of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. Followed by Anibal Sanchez who was signed to a 2-year deal that offseason, with a combination of Joe Ross and Erick Fedde to fill in the final spot. Those six pitchers combined an ERA that season of 3.88, a very encouraging stat as their mix of pitchers were a big reason the Nationals defied all odds and were winners of the Fall Classic in 2019.
Looking back on that season (as well as years before), it’s easy to feel teared up most of the time thinking of how dominant the Nationals starting pitching department was in the 2010s. Compared to the early 2020s, where it seems as if the Nats starting rotation was their weakness plain and simple. Which to an extent, it was.
Patrick Corbin was signed to an expensive 6 year-$140 million contract in the 2019 offseason. He solidified himself as a key piece in the Nationals rotation moving forward, following their World Series win. But over the last several years, he was never the same pitcher unfortunately.
It’s safe to say that his once-promising career turned into a disastrous downfall. During the years of 2020 to 2024, he had a total win-loss record of 33-70 and had an average ERA of 5.52 within those 5 seasons. It’s a shame that although he was a significant contributor towards the Nationals playoff efforts in 2019, he was a huge liability in the back-end years of his Nats career. But of course, he will always be remembered as a key member of the Nationals World Series team.
Obviously Nats fans can remember how dominant of a pitcher Max Scherzer was with the team. A fan favorite, and a player who is always determined to win for whomever he may play for. Before signing with the Nats in the 2015 offseason, he previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Detroit Tigers where he was AL Cy-Young Award Winner in 2013 with Detroit where he went 21-3 in 32 starts! Two years later, he finds himself signing a 7-year $215 million contract, which would go down as arguably the best free agency signing in baseball history. Winning the Cy-Young in 2016 & 2017 and was also a significant contributor to the Nats in the playoffs. Scherzer was included in the Nats/Dodgers mega-trade in 2021 along with shortstop Trea Turner. The deal included prospects Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray going back to DC.
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| RHP Max Scherzer was a fan-favorite ace in DC as he threw multiple no-hitters and |
And now we get to Stephen Strasburg, where he might be the most memorable Nationals pitcher of all time. Having dealt with several injuries in the entirety of his career, he still found a way to pitch well whenever it mattered with the combination of incredible pitch mix and location. Unlike Scherzer and Corbin, injuries derailed Strasburg throughout his career. He underwent surgery after surgery, till he was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in 2021, which effectively ended his masterful career. He made it back for one start in 2022, but that was all he could do.
Strasburg, who was drafted first overall in 2009 out of San Diego State, was considered the best pitcher coming out of the draft in MLB history. That wasn’t until Paul Skenes' name entered reality of course.
The Nationals 2024 rotation definitely raised some eyebrows in positive and negative ways. The positive developments of MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin gave lots of optimism that those pitchers are a part of this rotation for the foreseeable future. As well as the so-called experiments of left-handed minor league pitchers: Mitchell Parker & DJ Herz. Parker developed quickly in the minors and made his big-league debut versus the Dodgers on Jackie Robinson Day back on April 15th. Parker went 5 innings allowing 2 runs and striking out 4. The entirety of Parker’s season would consist of lots of ups and downs, ending the year with an ERA in the 4s. A relatively inconsistent first year for the young southpaw.
Then there’s DJ Herz who was originally acquired back in the 2023 trade deadline in a deal with the Chicago Cubs, sending infielder Jeimer Candelario to Chicago for Herz, and shortstop Kevin Made. Herz would go on to make his major league debut a year later where he showed encouraging flashes as a young pitcher. He registered a similar ERA to Parker’s, although Herz showed more consistency in fewer starting opportunities than Parker did. At only 24 years old, he’s got strong potential from the left side.
Throughout the entirety of the Nationals rebuild, they have placed a strong emphasis on developing young pitchers. Trading for guys like Gore and Herz and bringing in proven-quality veterans: Trevor Williams & Michael Soroka (one-year $9 million contract).
| RHP Mike Soroka is an intriguing add after showing promising signs with the Chicago |
Another interesting name Mike Rizzo added this offseason was a name you are likely not familiar with: Shinnosuke Ogasawara. Signing a 2-year deal, marking the first time the Nationals have taken a dip into the international market in Asia. Ogasawara, 27, projects as a long-term as a long-reliever and could potentially slide into the 5th starting role.
General Manager Mike Rizzo says you can never, ever have enough starting pitchers. “Having too many good starting pitchers is a good thing and not a bad thing. There’s going to be competition, and the five best who can go north with us, we’ll certainly do that. And we’ll make decisions about the other guys depending on how many there are, and what their timeline is for further development.”
One thing can be certain: the Nationals have enough starting pitching to not only get them through this season, but many more years after that. Potentially setting them up very well to compete with the big dogs in Major League Baseball.
Here is my final prediction on what the 2025 Washington Nationals starting rotation will look like:
MacKenzie Gore (LHP)
Jake Irvin (RHP)
Trevor Williams (RHP)
Michael Soroka (RHP)
Shinnosuke Ogasawara (LHP)
DJ Herz (LHP)
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