2020 Washington Nationals. Can the Nats build a dynasty?

[lucho2107]

L, (1-6) @Sun Trust Park
We dropped the first game of the final series of the year against the Braves. Porcello struggled and gave up 5 runs in 4 innings. The offense was dominated by Mike Soroka. Murphy has a 20 game hitting streak.

W, (5-2) @Sun Trust Park
We took the second game after a fine performance by Strasburg and the pitching staff. Adam Eaton and Drew Ward had homers for us. Eaton has a season-high 15 home runs.

League News
San Diego has secured the #1 NL Wild Card spot

L, (1-2) @Sun Trust Park
Patrick Corbin's decent outing was wasted as we could not figure out Braves starter Bryse Wilson. We lost the third game of the series and the Dodger will have the best record on the National League one more year.

L, (7-8) @Sun Trust Park
We lost in extra innings the series finale. Wong had 2 home runs and 5 runs batted in. Soto and Taylor had solo shots. The pitching staff, starting with Baeur did not have a good outing.

Roster Moves
Javy Guerra, the 35-year-old, has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

L, (8-9) @Citi Field
A bad game for us. Scherzer had to leave with some soreness after 2 innings and could not reach the 300 strikeout mark. Kela and Richards had a bad relief outing. Wong and Castro went deep.

League News
Tyler Webb from the Padres has suffered an undisclosed injury and will miss the playoffs.
The Texas Rangers have won AL West

W (10-4) @Citi Field
We took the second game of the series thanks to an all-around team effort. Rick Porcello struggled a bit in six innings but the bullpen managed to shutout the Mets on the final frames. The offense was powered thanks to a Carter Kieboom grand slam.

L, (5-6) @Citi Field
We dropped the last game of the season by a one-run margin. German struggled a lot in relief and gave up 4 runs. Victor Robles went deep and his season total is 19, another season-high.

League News
The Diamondbacks have secured the #2 NL Wild card spot.
The Oakland A´s have secured the #2 AL Wild card spot.
The Yankees and the Rays will play a tie-breaker to decide the AL East winner and the #1 wild card spot.

[lucho2107]

Roster Moves
Some bad news before the first series of the playoffs. Strasburg was diagnosed with a herniated disc and will be out for 3 weeks.

AL East Tiebreaker
Tampa Bay Rays 5 @ 1 New York Yankees
Game MVP: Trevor Richards

NL Wild Card
Arizona Diamondbacks 3 @ 5 San Diego Padres
Game MVP: Luis Patiño

AL Wild Card
New York Yankees 5 @ 4 Oakland Athletics
Game MVP: Jesus Luzardo

Game 1@ Nationals Park
Score: Pirates 1 - 7 Nationals
Player of the game: Patrick Corbin
Summary: Patrick Corbin was handed the ball in game 1 of the series. He went 6.1 innings and allowed just one run, a home run to Anderlton Simmons in the second inning. We jumped on Pirates starter Joe Musgrove on the sixth inning scoring three runs thanks to a hit by Adam Eaton and an RBI Double by Patrick Corbin. We scored in the seventh thanks to a solo shot by Juan Soto off Edgar Santana. We increased our lead in the eighth by two thanks to a couple of doubles by Victor Robles and Drew Ward off Hector Noesi. Wander Suero, Austin Adams, and Brad Hand all had clean innings and finished our first win of October.

Game 2@ Nationals Park
Score: Pirates 8 - 6 Nationals
Player of the game: Ke'Bryan Haynes
Summary: Max Scherzer started the second game for us. He faced 25-year old Mitch Keller. Victor Robles went deep on the second pitch Keller threw to give us an early lead. Keller got a couple of fast outs but a walk by Soto, an infield hit by Kieboom, and a double by Adam Eaton allowed us to score another run in the first. Nevertheless, the Pirates answered right back and scored 3 runs to turn around the score. The Pirates added another run after a run-scoring single by Josh Bell in the 3rd. In the 4th an error by Jason Castro after a sacrifice bunt by Keller allowed 2 more runs. Scherzer was taken out of the game and replaced by Richards. On the bottom of that inning, a 2 out double by Victor Robles scored 2 more runs for us to cut the Pirates lead to one. In the sixth Jason Castro went deep with a man on base and we had a tied the game. The Pirates got back their 2 run lead with a homer by Tucker Banhart in the 8th inning of Daniel McGrath. The offense went quiet in the last two innings and the Pirates took the second game of the series.

Game 3@ PNC Park
Score: Nationals 2-5 Pirates
Player of the game: Trevor Williams
Summary: The third game of the series featured Trevor Bauer (WAS) vs Trevor Williams (PIT). We had some changes in the lineup as Zimmerman started in 1B instead of Daniel Murphy and Kolten Wong in 2B instead of Starlin Castro. The first run of the game came in the 3rd inning of the bat of Travis Swaggerty who went yard over the right-field bleachers. The Pirates scored two more in the next inning. We scored our first run of the game in the top of the 5th thanks to a single by Victor Robles. Wong followed up with another single that allowed Ward to score and cut the lead in half. Porcello replaced Bauer in the bottom of the fifth. He threw scoreless fifth but gave up a towering 2-run homer to Socrates Brito. The offense could not figure out the Pirates bullpen and we dropped the 3rd game of the series.

Game 4@ PNC Park
Score: Nationals 6-1 Pirates
Player of the game: Cody Ponce
Summary: After another Victor Robles leadoff hit we scored an early run against Pirates starter Cody Ponce. Rick Porcello started for us but only recorded 2 outs and gave up a run before being replaced. Suero, Kela, and McGrath handled the next 4 innings amazingly and did not allow a single hit. We got the lead in the 4th thanks to sac fly from Adam Eaton. The bullpen kept their incredible performance and recorded three more scoreless innings. In the seventh Daniel Murphy had a 2-run homer and Kolten Wong a 2-run double to give us a five-run lead for the final innings. Austin Adams and Torres-Costa handled the game and we survived the elimination game.

NLDS
San Diego Padres (2) vs (3) Los Angeles Dodgers
Game MVP: Jesus Luzardo

Game 5@ Nationals Park
Score: Pirates 4 - 5 Nationals
Player of the game: Max Scherzer
Summary: In the definitive game of the series we started Max Scherzer. He faced Joe Musgrove. The game started better for the Pirates as Polanco homered in the second and Hayes in the 4th. The Pirates had a two-run difference when at the bottom of the 5th Victor Robles score thanks to a double by Daniel Murphy. In the next at-bat, Trea Turner went deep to turn the score around. Scherzer settled in and went until the seven innings without allowing any more runs and striking out 8 rivals. On the 8th we scored two more thanks to a hit by a pitch to Kolten Wong and a single by the series MVP Victor Robles. We suffered in the 9th as Polanco went deep of Brad Hand with a man on base to make it a one-run ball game. Hand struck out Hayes to record the final out of the game and secure our place in the National League Championship Series.

ALDS
Tampa Bay Rays (2) vs (3) Texas Rangers
Game MVP: J.D Davis

ALDS
New York Yankees (2) vs (3) Chicago White Sox´s
Game MVP: Eloy Jimenez

[lucho2107]

Roster Moves
David Phelps replaced Tanner Rainey in the playoff roster.

Game 1@ Dodger Stadium
Score: Nationals 2- 5 Dodgers
Player of the game: Cody Bellinger
Summary: The first game of the series featured two lefties as the starter. Patrick Corbin for us and David Price for LA. In the first inning, Juan Soto delivered an RBI single to bring home Trea Turner and score the first run of the game. Zack McKinstry had a leadoff home run for the Dodgers and DJ Peters followed up with another one to give the home team an early lead. The home team scored two more in the next inning as Patrick Corbin struggled a lot to get some outs. Rick Porcello replaced him for the 5th inning. Before that Turner scored again thanks to an RBI double by Carter Kieboom. Porcello got 4 outs before suffering an injury that took him out of the ballgame. Cody Bellinger went deep of Austin Adams in the seventh to increase the Dodger difference. We had a rally in the next inning but Castro was thrown out at the plate by Bellinger with 2 outs. Kenley Jansen got the save for LA and we lost game 1.

Roster Moves
Rick Porcello was placed in the IL and Kolby Allard was recalled.

Game 2@ Dodger Stadium
Score: Nationals 5- 6 Dodgers
Player of the game: Max Muncy
Summary: Game 2 of the series featured Trevor Bauer vs Clayton Kershaw. The Dodger went up early thanks to a home run in the first inning by Max Muncy. We responded right away with a sac fly by Michael A Taylor that tied the game. After a couple of good innings by Kershaw at the top of the 5th inning, Juan Soto took him deep with a man on base to give us a 2-run advantage. But we lost that advantage an inning later when the Dodgers attacked Bauer and scored three thanks to a 2-run double from Gavin Lux and an RBI single by Joc Pederson. The next inning the Dodger kept their offensive performance as Max Muncy went deep for the second time. He had a 2-run shot over the left-field line off Keone Kela. Our offense refused to go down easily and in the 8th we mounted a rally that scored two runs but we came up short and the Dodgers took 2 game advantage.

Game 3@ Nationals Park
Score: Dodgers 13- 4 Nationals
Player of the game: Will Smith
Summary: Max Scherzer started for us in the third game of the series as we looked to achieve our first win. The game started great for us as at the bottom of the first inning Juan Soto went deep off Walker Buehler with Robles on base to give us an early 2-run lead. We increased the difference as in the third inning Robles got a solo home run to lead off the inning. In the 4th, after an amazing 3 innings, Scherzer allowed a solo shot to Max Muncy that put the Dodgers on the board. We will recover our 3-run lead in the sixth with an RBI single by Adam Eaton. In the seventh, the Dodgers mounted a rally on Scherzer and after a 2 run homer by Corey Seager, our advantage was just one run. In the next inning, our bullpen could not stop the powerful offense and Torres-Costa allowed one more run that helped the Dodgers tie the game. The game was all tied in the ninth when the Dodgers had back to back to back home runs off Brad Hand. After getting one out, McKinstry went deep one more time. Hand allowed 4 home runs in 4 hits and got only one out. The worst was yet to come as later in the inning Will Smith had a grand slam home run off Kela and Joc Pederson went yard one more time. We allowed 9 runs on the ninth inning and we are one defeat away from elimination.

Game 4@ Nationals Park
Score: Dodgers 2 - 3 Nationals
Player of the game: Garret Richards
Summary: Garret Richards started for us as we faced elimination. Richards pitched very well the first five innings allowing a single walk and no hits. He punched out 6 in the process. Caleb Ferguson, the starter of the Dodgers, was also doing a great job and threw 5 shutout innings. In the 5th the Dodgers took the lead thanks to a towering home run by Joc Pederson. Ferguson was replaced by Graterol and then Jansen who were amazing as well and did not allow a single hit. Torres-Costa and Adams did a good job for us as they kept the Dodgers limited to one run. We got to the final inning of the game being shutout and achieving just one hit. It seemed that our playoff dreams were over but with one out in the ninth Trea Turner went deep off Mitchel White and the game went to extras. The same dynamic continued as the pitchers from both teams dominated their rivals. At the top of the 14th, the Dodgers took the lead thanks to an RBI single from Gavin Lux. We were 3 outs away from elimination when Carter Kieboom went deep leading off the inning to tie the game. Two batters later Victor Robles managed to get the barrel of the bat on a fastball and gave us the victory with a solo shot to center field.

Game 5@ Nationals Park
Score: Dodgers 14 - 4 Nationals
Player of the game: DJ Peters
Summary: We faced another elimination game at home and Patrick Corbin started for us. The game was a total nightmare from the start. In the first inning, the Dodgers scored 4 thanks to a grand slam by Gavin Lux. The increased their difference in the third inning when DJ Peters went deep of Patrick Corbin who was taken off the game very early. We showed some signs of life at the bottom of that frame when Victor Robles had a 2-run RBI single. All of our hopes were quickly gone as in the fifth inning Cody Bellinger had a 2-run homer off Daniel McGrath and later in the same inning, Will Smith did the same off Kolby Allard. The offense of the Dodgers kept going as they scored 2 more in the next inning thanks to another homer by DJ Peters. With the game 11-2, the 2-run home run by Christian Vazquez in the eitgh inning was harmless. It became more irrelevant when at the top of the final inning McKinstry had a 3-run homer that secured the Dodgers spot on the 2021 world series.

ALCS
Texas Rangers (1) vs (4) Chicago White Sox´s
Series MVP: Gavin Sheets

World Series
Chicago White Sox´s (0) vs (4) Los Angeles Dodgers
Series MVP: Corey Seager

[lucho2107]

End of the year Roster Evaluation

I will do a season review before entering the offseason. All of the players in the 40-man roster who participated in more than 7 games during the season will be evaluated on a scale from A to F. If a player is going to be a free agent, he will have (FA) after his stats. If a player played his rookie season, he will have an (RK) after his stats. If a player was traded to the team, his grade and stats will be only on the time he played for the Nationals. The players who were traded away or DFA´d will not be graded.

Starters
Max Scherzer A- 3.75ERA, 1.04WHIP, 213.2 IP, 294K, 5.5 WAR
Stephen Strasburg B- 2.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 175 ERA+, 2.9 WAR
Garret Richards C- 4.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 132.2 IP, 1.8 WAR
Rick Porcello C- 4.33 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 166.1 IP, 1.3 WAR (FA)
Trevor Bauer D 4.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 76.1 IP, 1.5 WAR
Kendal Graveman D 6.15 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 86.1 IP, 1.1 WAR (FA)
Jameson Taillon B- 3.20 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 59.0 IP, 1.1 WAR (FA)

Relievers
James Bourque D 6.66 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 24.1 IP, -0.1 WAR
Keone Kela C- 4.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 40.1 IP, 0.3 WAR
Daniel McGrath B 3.62 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 109.1 IP, 9 GS, 2.2 WAR
David Phelps D 4.91 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 33.0 IP, -0.2 WAR (FA)
Tanner Rainey D 5.27 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 56.1 IP, -0.2 WAR
Wander Suero C+ 3.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 74.2 IP, 0.3 WAR
Quintin Torres-Costa C+ 3.48 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 0.5 WAR
Austin Adams D- 6.84 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, 25.0 IP, 0.3 WAR
Jhonatan German C- 4.50 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 50 IP, 0.4 WAR
Brad Hand B- 3.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 51.1 IP, 33 SV, 1.3 WAR

Catchers
Jason Castro C .222 AVG, .727 OPS, 359 PA, 1.4 WAR
Christian Vazquez C- .250 AVG, .700 OPS, 341 PA, 0.8 WAR

Infielders
Daniel Murphy A .315 AVG, .944 OPS, 591 PA, 32 HR, 4.2 WAR
Ryan Zimmerman B+ .339 AVG, 1.044 OPS, 192 PA, 1.8 WAR (RET)
Starlin Castro B+ .308 AVG, .922 OPS, 321 PA, 1.8 WAR
Kolten Wong B .270 AVG, .917 OPS, 430 PA, 2.8 WAR
Carter Kieboom A- .285 AVG, .858 OPS, 656 PA, 27 HR, 108 RBI, 3.8 WAR
Drew Ward B .243 AVG, .871 OPS, 158 PA, 1.0 WAR (RK)
Trea Turner B+ .283 AVG, .832 OPS, 703 PA, 109 R, 3.7 WAR

Outfielders
Adam Eaton B .284 AVG, .792 OPS, 644 PA, 15 HR, 2.1 WAR (FA)
Michael A Taylor C .271 AVG, .801 OPS, 298 PA, -0.1 WAR (FA)
Andrew Stevenson B- .323 AVG, .885 OPS, 69 PA, 0.6 WAR
Victor Robles A .299 AVG, .871 OPS, 432 PA, 19 HR, 3.1 WAR
Juan Soto A+ .297 AVG, 1.080 OPS, 714 PA, 39 HR, 118 RBI, 172 BB, 8.2 WAR

***
Roster Moves
I´ve executed the option on Vazques contract worth 7M

[lucho2107]

Roster Moves
I´ve resigned Daniel Murphy to a 2-year contract worth 27M. The second-year has a team option attached to it.
Garret Richards agreed to a one-year 1.5 M deal

Gold Glove Award
American League
P: Nathan Eovaldi (BOS)
C: Yasmani Grandal (CWS)
1B: Anthony Rizzo (CLE)
2B: Tyler Wade (NYY)
3B: Matt Chapman (OAK)
SS: Jose Iglesias (SEA)
LF: Anthony Santander (BAL)
CF: Billy Hamilton (OAK)
RF: Aaron Judge (NYY)

National League
P: Carlos Carrasco (CHC)
C: Christian Vazquez (WAS)
1B: Freddie Freeman (ATL)
2B: DJ LeMahiue (STL)
3B: Nolan Arenado (COL)
SS: Andrelton Simmons (PIT)
LF: Chris Taylor (LAD)
CF: Harrison Bader (STL)
RF: Ronald Acuña Jr (ATL)


Reliever of the year Award
American League: Wyatt Mills (OAK)
National League: Trevor Gott (SF)


Hank Aaron Award
American League
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
1B: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)
2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)
3B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr (TOR)
SS: Gleyber Torres (NYY)
LF: Joey Gallo (TEX)
CF: Jared Kelenic (SEA)
RF: Mookie Betts (DET)
DH: Giancarlo Stanton (NYY)

National League
P: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
C: J.T Realmuto (PHI)
1B: Josh Bell (PIT)
2B: Gavin Lux (LAD)
3B: Manny Machado (SD)
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr (SD)
LF: Juan Soto (WAS)
CF: Nick Senzel (CIN)
RF: Cody Bellinger (LAD)

Rookie of the year Award
American League: Jarred Kelenic (SEA)
National League: Zach McKinstry (LAD)

Manager of the year Award
American League: Rick Renteria (CWS)
National League: Dave Roberts (LAD)

Cy Young Award
American League: Blake Snell (TB)
National League: Luis Patiño (SD)

Most Valuable Player Award
American League: Vladimir Guerrero Jr (TOR)
National League: Cody Bellinger (LAD)

[lucho2107]

League News
1. The New York Yankees have signed Nolan Arenado to a 6-year contract worth 250M. (season avg of 41.6M)
2. Kirby Yates resigned with the Yankees for 1 year and 9.5 M
3. Francisco Lindor agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for 8 years and 280M. (season avg of 35M)
4. Zack Greinke resigned with the Astros for 2 years and 8.5 M
4. Lance Mculler Jr resigned with the Astros for 4 years and 79.5M

Roster Moves
We´ve signed right fielder Nomar Mazara to 4 years and 47M. His last year has a team option attached to it.

League News
1. Michael Conforto has signed with the Rockies for 7 years and 114M
2. Adam Eaton has signed with the SF Giants for 3 years and 26.4M
3. J.T Realmuto has signed with the NY Mets for 6 years and 152.4M
4. The Diamondbacks sent to Boston Carson Kelly and a minor leaguer in exchange for RHP Marcus Stroman

Roster Moves
We´ve signed Roberto Osuna to a one year deal worth 3.8M

League News
1. David Robertson signed with the Brewers
2. Tommy Pham agreed with the Royals for 2 years and 25.5M
3. Lance Lynn signed with the Cubs for 4 years and 37.1M
4. The Phillies signed Schwarber for 4 years and 45.7M
5. Yan Gomes signed with the St Louis Cardinals for 2 years and 27.2M
6. Justin Turner signed with the Cubs for 3 years and 37.7M
7. Buster Posey agreed with Philadelphia for 4 years and 38.8M
8. Charlie Blackmon signed with the Dodgers for 3 years and 69.9M

Roster Moves
We´ve signed Kris Bryant for 4 years and 65.1M. The third-year has a team option attached and the 4th a player option.
We´ve signed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a 3-year deal worth 40.7M

League News
1. The Chicago Cubs signed Carlos Correa for 4 years and 96.9M
2. The Miami Marlins changed their name to the Miami Blue Wahoos.
3. Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz were inducted into the hall of fame
4. Jorge Soler signed with the Mets for one year and 9.4M
5. Nick Castellanos signed with the Angels for one year and 7.7M