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Washington Nationals Predictions | 2013 Season Betting Preview

2013 MLB Team Previews – Washington Nationals

If the Washington Nationals are allowed to bring all of their weapons to this season’s postseason fight there will be some tremendous value in their current odds to win it all. After having to put their pitching staff ace Stephen Strasburg on the shelf for last year’s playoffs, the Nationals made an early exit with a 3-2 series loss to St. Louis in the NLDS.

You get the feeling that will not be the case in 2013 and with all the other talent on Washington’s roster it could very well be its turn to keep the NL’s three year winning streak in the World Series alive.

Bovada Odds to Win

  • NL East -120
  • National League: 15/4
  • World Series: 17/2

Key Additions

This team was loaded with talent up and down its roster, so one of the main goals this offseason was to keep it as intact as position. Just for good measure ( and perhaps as the missing piece to a championship) the Nationals went out and added Dan Haren to a starting rotation that was already considered the best in the National League.

To add even more depth to a rock-solid bullpen, they went out and signed Rafael Soriano as their new closer.

Projected Starting Line-Up

  • 1. Denard Span, CF
  • 2. Jayson Werth, RF
  • 3. Bryce Harper, LF
  • 4. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
  • 5. Adam LaRoche, 1B
  • 6. Ian Desmond, SS
  • 7. Danny Espinosa, 2B
  • 8. Kurt Suzuki, C

Washington is going with pretty much the same lineup that helped the team win 98 games last season. This group batted .261 last year which was fourth-best in the NL and scored 731 runs which ranked fifth in the league. The main improvement was with the long ball as their 194 home runs in 2012 were second only to Milwaukee. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

Projected Starting Rotation

  • 1. Stephen Strasburg
  • 2. Gio Gonzalez
  • 3. Jordan Zimmermann
  • 4. Dan Haren
  • 5. Ross Detwiler

There is not much to say about this group other than if they all stay healthy, they will probably improve on its NL-best 3.40 ERA of a year ago. It has been proven that pitching wins championships and with the restrictor plates taken off Strasburg this season, there is no telling how many games he will win on his way to a Cy Young Trophy.

Closer

Rafael Soriano

Adding Soriano gives the Nationals a number of options with their late-inning relief along with Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard. What makes this move even scarier is that the overall bullpen last season had an even better ERA than the starters at 3.20

2013 Washington Nationals Prediction:

Like so many talented teams before them, the only thing that can get in the Nationals way of a run all the way to a World Series title is themselves.

With the whole ‘shutting down Strasburg’ distraction a thing of the past, I do not see any team in the NL getting in their way.

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By Dave Schwab

David Schwab is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. While not cheering for his beloved Philadelphia Eagles David can be found working on his blog at www.eaglesinc.com. David wants to hear from you so please comment below.