After First Taste Of Success, Nationals Look To Repeat As Champions

• The shortened MLB season opens the door for the Washington Nationals to repeat as World Series champs. They would be the first team to do so since the 2000 New York Yankees won their third-straight title.

• The rotation trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin is as good as any in baseball and figure to start over half of Washington’s 60 games.

• The Nationals did a great job during the offseason of fixing a bullpen that plagued them for most of 2019, turning a liability into a potential strength.

• Washington may have lost Anthony Rendon, but they added several proven hitters during the offseason, giving them a lot of depth and a strong bench to help complement their elite pitching staff.

• At +1800, DraftKings is placing the Nationals inside the top-seven for best chances to win the 2020 title.

Triple Threat On The Bump

Last season, the trio of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin carried the Washington Nationals to the World Series. There’s no reason why this trio isn’t capable of doing the same thing this season. In fact, the shortened season and delay makes the Washington rotation look more lethal. Under normal circumstances, one would worry about fatigue after all the innings the trio logged last October. However, with a few more months of rest, Scherzer and Strasburg, in particular, should be ready to go with less concern about a potential injury derailing their season.

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An Improved Bullpen

The Nationals came on strong late in the 2019 season and in the postseason because they managed to fix a beleaguered bullpen at the trade deadline. In the end, that bullpen played a key role in winning the World Series. During the offseason, the Washington front office did a great job of making sure the team’s bullpen struggles are a thing of the past. The Nationals managed to hang on to Daniel Hudson, while also signing Will Harris, who’s been a key part of the Houston Astros bullpen for several years. The two will be the primary setup men for closer Sean Doolittle, who remains dependable when healthy. Much like Washington’s starters, the extra time off will benefit Doolittle, helping to give the Nationals a more reliable bullpen than the one they had for most of 2019.

No Rendon, No Problem

The biggest question facing the Nationals is how they’ll replace Anthony Rendon. Of course, there were similar concerns about replacing Bryce Harper last season and Washington managed that just fine. Obviously, one player won’t be able to replicate Rendon’s near-MVP performance in 2019, but the Nationals brought in several players who they hope will contribute. Eric Thames will split time at first base with Ryan Zimmerman, which could end up being a perfect platoon. Meanwhile, Starlin Castro and Asdrubal Cabrera will team up with Howie Kendrick and promising rookie Carter Kieboom to handle both second base and third base. Altogether, that group should be productive, especially with Trea Turner remaining a menace at the top of the order and young star Juan Soto anchoring the middle of the lineup. At +1800, there are plenty of reasons to bet on the Nationals in 2020.

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