4 WASHINGTON NATIONALS

O/U WINS: 84.5

KEY PLAYER: Stephen Strasburg. The recipient of the biggest contract in franchise history started that pact with a thud, pitching in only two games before getting sidelined. He must look far more like his 2019 World Series MVP self and lead this starting rotation. PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: Victor Robles followed a bangup 2019 rookie season with a highly concerning 2020 sophomore funk. While the Nats don’t count on Robles to be an offensive stud, they need him to serve as something more than an automatic out while turning back into a defensive stud.

NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Tim Cate. The UConn product, a southpaw, has put up 184 Ks against 48 walks in 195 ²/₃ minor league innings, topping out with Single-A Potomac in 2019. BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Do the Nats have enough starting pitching after their big three of Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin (who wasn’t great last year)? Veteran Jon Lester and relative youngsters Joe Ross, Austin Voth and Erick Fedde will attempt to answer that concern affirmatively.

HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: The Nats might very well win the NL Central. Unfortunately for them, they don’t play there. A top-heavy roster (time now to recognize the great Juan Soto and Trea Turner) features some notable holes. There are interesting buy-low plays (Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber) on which to dream, yet probably too many to win this intense division.

PROJECTED LINEUP SS Trea Turner RF Juan Soto 1B Josh Bell LF Kyle Schwarber 3B Starlin Castro 2B Josh Harrison

C Yan Gomes

CF Victor Robles

ROTATION

RHP Max Scherzer RHP Stephen Strasburg LHP Patrick Corbin RHP Joe Ross

LHP Jon Lester