Nationals, O's primed for success

The 2015 Major League Baseball season marks the first point in many fans’ lifetimes; there is an overwhelming excitement in the Maryland-D.C. corridor for both of its teams before opening day.

The American League’s (A.L.) Baltimore Orioles and National League’s (N.L.) Washington Nationals enter the beginning of their respective schedules carrying great expectations of their residing cities and countless pundits across the country. Both squads look to return baseball glory to a metropolitan area that has not had a championship since 1983.

The Washington Nationals, in their 11th season as a club, remain no strangers to preseason hype. Last season, many fans picked them as an early favorite to win the National League East due to a deep pitching staff and improved lineup. They fell short, however, losing a heartbreaking series to the eventual champion, the Giants. The general public, and perhaps the Nationals themselves, have raised their expectations even higher this season, many crowning them as the prohibitive World Series favorite.

The Orioles enter the season as the reigning American League East champions after being ignominiously swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. Though they made many headlines for those they lost in free agency, many see the team’s veteran core as enough to seize a wide open American League. Having one of the best managers in baseball at the helm in Buck Showalter doesn’t hurt either.

To cover why, in my opinion, these two teams will meet in October’s World Series as their respective league champions, one must discuss their offseason moves and how these project for each team going forward.

The Nationals dominated the off-season discourse by taking a pitching staff that already sported the lowest combined ERA in baseball last season to next level. Though teams aspire to have a true “ace” in their rotations, this squad defies logic by having five.

By signing Max Scherzer, the AL Cy Young Award winner two years ago, to a massive $210 million deal, the Nats have a rotation that will trot out a legitimate No. 1 caliber starter every day.

Though Sherzer, Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez all have accumulated a plethora of Cy Young attention over the past few years, veteran Doug Fister dominated to the tune of a 2.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP last season. The Nationals will especially thrive in the postseason, when several key pitching performances prove enough to capture a series.

Though pitching remains the Nationals’ greatest strength, it paradoxically could be their biggest weakness. The bullpen, usually stellar, lost three relief pitchers who held opposing batters to under a .230 average last season and made no effort to replace them with anybody in particular.

Drew Storen will serve as the new closer, a thought that will keep Washington fans up at night considering he blew two saves and held a 8.44 ERA in six postseason appearances. The offense and starting pitchers will have to consistently provide large leads for this tenuous group to maintain.

Finally, the Nationals offense, though riddled by injury at the moment, will emerge at full strength by the end of April. After a disappointing season, look for Bryce Harper to finally become a legit All-Star if healthy. The real star on this team, however is third baseman Anthony Rendon. 

After hitting 21 dingers and carrying a .351 OBP last year, Rendon will be a favorite for the N.L. MVP. Somehow he flew under the radar last year to general public despite finishing fifth in the MVP voting, but Rendon will take his place among the game’s other great young stars such as Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout this season.

The Orioles leave less to talk about, as their quiet offseason concerned fans. 2014 home run king Nelson Cruz departed to Seattle, and Nick Markakis left for Atlanta, taking with them a combined 54 home runs. The long ball should still not be a problem for the Birds though, as every member of their potential 2015 lineup has double-digit home run potential (a rarity in today’s pitching dominated game).

Matt Wieters returns from last season’s Tommy John surgery and, assuming a full recovery, should account for at least 20 homers. Chris Davis, arguably the best player in baseball two seasons ago, crashed and burned last year to the tune of a .196 batting average and 26 homers. Expect returns to career norms and between 30 to 40 homers for the first baseman.

Finally, a full season of a healthy Manny Machado should spell doom for American League pitchers, as he was rounding into midseason form with a .324 batting average over his last three months before a season-ending knee injury. Machado is an MVP candidate this season if he continues his upwards progression sans injury.

The surprise for the Birds this season will be under-the-radar free agent acquisition Travis Snider. The 27-year-old outfielder comes from Pittsburgh on a one-year deal having batted .288 with a monstrous .356 OBP and nine homers in last season’s second half. Furthermore, the lefty hitter should benefit greatly from Camden Yard’s short perch in right field.

The O’s staff held a 2.80 ERA in last season’s second half, without a traditional ace, good enough for one of the best marks in baseball.

Each of these teams has flaws and is facing injury issues to start the season. Nevertheless, they both possess experience and great upside. Get excited for a tremendous season of local baseball in the Mid-Atlantic.