03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 35
MLB ’24 NL EAST PREVIEW WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Sunday, March 24, 2024 35
2023: 71-91, fifth place | Manager: Dave Martinez (seventh season) | Opening Day: March 28 at Cincinnati
OVERVIEW
TOP HITTERS
OF Lane Thomas (.268, 28 HRs, 86 RBIs, .783 OPS), C Keibert
Ruiz (.260, 18, 67), OF Eddie Rosario (.255, 21, 74 with Braves),
1B/OF/DH Joey Gallo (.177, 21, 40 with Twins).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Josiah Gray (8-13, 3.91 ERA), LH MacKenzie Gore (7-10,
4.42), LH Patrick Corbin (10-15, 5.20), RH Trevor Williams (6-10,
5.55), RH Jake Irvin (3-7, 4.61).
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Kyle Finnegan (7-5, 3.76 ERA, 28/36 saves), RH Hunter
Harvey (4—4, 2.82, 10 saves), RH Derek Law (4-6, 3.60, 2 saves
with Reds), LH Joe La Sorsa (1-0, 4.41 with Rays and Nationals).
ONE TO WATCH
SS CJ Abrams (.245,
18, 64, 47 steals)
OUTLOOK
The Nationals are still a work in progress, as Martinez and GM
Mike Rizzo oversee the ongoing roster reconstruction. This
season, like last, is not about any sort of win-loss expectations
but rather whatever positive steps forward can be taken by the
inexperienced bunch counted on to eventually end the run of
futility — four last-place finishes in a row in the NL East — since
the 2019 World Series championship. Will 2023 NL All-Star
Gray, Gore, Abrams and Ruiz blossom? Could outfielders
James Wood (who, like Gore and CJ Abrams,
arrived in the trade of Juan Soto to the
Padres) and Dylan Crews (the No. 2
overall pick in June’s amateur draft)
get some time in the majors? One
thing no longer hanging over the
franchise: The Lerner family has
decided not to sell the club
after nearly two years of
looking for a buyer. Still
up in the air as the season approaches: When
and how will Stephen
Strasburg, no longer
able to pitch after a
series of injuries and
operations, announce
that his playing days are
done?
— Associated Press
JEFF ROBERSON/AP
HE’S HERE
OF Eddie Rosario, INF Nick Senzel, 1B/OF/DH Joey Gallo (left), OF Jesse Winker, RHP Derek Law.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
RHP Carl Edwards Jr., RHP Cory Abbott, 1B Dominic Smith.
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