WASHINGTON — The Nationals enter the second half of the 2015 season today with a big homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.
The Dodgers lead the NL West and are a likely playoff opponent for Washington. The Mets, meanwhile, have stayed afloat with fantastic starting pitching and remain just two games behind the Nats in the NL East. Much work is left if Washington hopes for a third division title in four seasons. Here’s what has to go right in the second half:
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Health
Nothing else really matters. The Nats can’t expect Bryce Harper to carry them the entire season. Well…maybe they can. But he needs some help. Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Denard Span – four key starters – all remain on the disabled list.
Their aches and pains vary. Span has had lingering back spasms. Rendon sustained knee, oblique and quad injuries. Werth was hit on the left wrist just as he was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Those three should all be back by the end of the month. Werth began a rehab assignment on Thursday.
Zimmerman’s plantar fasciitis in his left foot might be the biggest concern, though. He could begin a rehab stint soon, too. But the chronic nature of that injury leaves his ability to stay on the field in question.
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Ian Desmond
The Nats need their shortstop back. A disastrous year for Desmond continues. He is just 3-for-30 at the plate in July. He has cost himself millions of dollars as a free agent at the end of the season and may be playing his final months in Washington. The numbers aren’t going to recover to his career norms. But if Desmond can settle himself at the plate and be a contributor the rest of the way then the lineup should stabilize. But he has to find the answers soon.
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Relief Pitching
The bullpen hasn’t been bad if we look at the overall numbers. The Nats rank 10th in bullpen ERA (3.31). But take away Drew Storen (1.89 ERA) and you have an untested group. Are relievers like David Carpenter and Felipe Rivero the answer? Their addition in June helped. But Aaron Barrett (4.84 ERA) and Blake Treinen (3.54 ERA) need to be more consistent. Treinen’s lack of control (20 walks) is baffling.
Casey Janssen (3.86 ERA) adds a veteran presence to the back end of the bullpen. But it’s clear general manager Mike Rizzo needs to add at least one more arm, if not two, to give manager Matt Williams more options. Whether Rizzo wants to make a run at Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman (1.69 ERA) in a trade isn’t clear. The price in prospects for a one-inning pitcher might be too much.
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Stephen Strasburg
The rotation has been very good, but not as dominant as expected with a 3.68 ERA. That’s eighth best in the majors. Max Scherzer (2.11 ERA) posted a brilliant first half. Jordan Zimmermann (3.22 ERA) is still a quietly consistent presence. Gio Gonzalez (3.99 ERA) and Doug Fister (4.08 ERA) have dipped some.
But Strasburg is the key. He never really recovered from an ankle injury in spring training. For a time he was one of the NL’s worst starters and the ERA is still stuck at 5.16. And all that was before an oblique injury knocked him to the disabled list. No word yet on when he can start a rehab assignment. That’s a tricky injury for pitchers. Washington needs him to not only return, but to find the form he showed in his two starts before the injury on July 4.
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Tanner Roark
But this is why the Nats were considered overwhelming favorites to win the NL East. For now, Washington will see if Tanner Roark – so good with a 2.85 ERA last season – can adjust to being a starter again. He has been prone to home runs (10) this season as reliever and in six starts. But his track record gives Washington confidence he can lower that 4.43 ERA quickly while Strasburg heals. If Roark settles in, they can take their time with Strasburg and make sure the full rotation is ready for the stretch run entering September.
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