Mapping Out the 2019 Pitching Staff

[Natsinpwc]

I'm guessing he gets every chance to start, and I don't see him as any better than a #4.

Right now I only see crap behind Scherzer and Strasburg. And the latter is frequently on the shelf. Hellickson will want at least a two year deal after the good season he had. Can’t see giving him that. They really need to sign a decent starter.

[Slateman]

Get Sonny Gray IMO.

4.98 ERA. Exactly what this team needs.

[GburgNatsFan]

The Nats gave Rendon an extended period off because of the birth of his kid, too. Winning these games is meaningless. If it were me, I'd give Roark the time off, too.

I've got problems with Gott , Codero amd Glover. The former are terrible.

What is the deal with Roark. His excused absense could mean a problem with the new born or simply the Nats wanted to see what some of the others can do and had no need for him, though DM's lineups are putting our best players forward. I would not pencil him in as a #3 and would like to see if we could obtain a real #3 with bonafides over the past two seasons. Let Roark enter the fray for the last two spots. Except for Ross none of the candidates for the last spot has shown they can go more than 5-6 innings. They best of them could be your RP's.  I would not object to making a reasonable bid for Herrera.

[aspenbubba]

The Nats gave Rendon an extended period off because of the birth of his kid, too. Winning these games is meaningless. If it were me, I'd give Roark the time off, too.

I don't recall when that happened. Please be more specific and wasn't there another player more recently who had extended time off as we were all concerned about the health of the mother and child?

[DPMOmaha]

If Ross is healthy, he's the best in-house option for the 5 spot, he'll likely come with inning limits, so they'll need something to back fill with. But he's the most talented of Ross/Fedde/Voth/McGowin crowd, I think. I'm all about moving or signing over Roark if they can.

[DPMOmaha]

I don't recall when that happened. Please be more specific and wasn't there another player more recently who had extended time off as we were all concerned about the health of the mother and child?

Happened in July. They put him on Family Medical Leave and everyone freaked out because they thought something was wrong with the baby. Turns out there wasn't, they just gave him an extra day or two.

[imref]

Happened in July. They put him on Family Medical Leave and everyone freaked out because they thought something was wrong with the baby. Turns out there wasn't, they just gave him an extra day or two.

They aren't disclosing, for obvious reasons, what is going on with Roark, just that Davey told him to take as much time off as he needs.

[DPMOmaha]

They don't need to. His wife just had a baby. They have an expanded roster, and the season has been decided.

[UMDNats]

4.98 ERA. Exactly what this team needs.

We're not going to be signing a bunch of aces. To me, he's a perfect "reclamation" project. 3.55 ERA in 2018.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

of course, I'm always tracking the Red Sox roster, but I'd think their abundance of lefty starters might make them a trade partner.  Beyond Sale and Price, Rodriguez, Pomeranz, and Brian Johnson could all start here. Rodriguez would be expensive but Pomeranz might be a bounce back candidate.  Brian Johnson will not wow you but he performed pretty well this year and could be a #4.

[Slateman]

If Ross is healthy, he's the best in-house option for the 5 spot, he'll likely come with inning limits, so they'll need something to back fill with. But he's the most talented of Ross/Fedde/Voth/McGowin crowd, I think. I'm all about moving or signing over Roark if they can.

The innings limit is why I suggested getting Richards. He'll be coming off TJS rehab in late July

[UMDNats]

of course, I'm always tracking the Red Sox roster, but I'd think their abundance of lefty starters might make them a trade partner.  Beyond Sale and Price, Rodriguez, Pomeranz, and Brian Johnson could all start here. Rodriguez would be expensive but Pomeranz might be a bounce back candidate.  Brian Johnson will not wow you but he performed pretty well this year and could be a #4.

You think there could be a match with MAT or Eaton?

[Slateman]

You think there could be a match with MAT or Eaton?

Lol ... have you even looked at their roster?

They have a better version of Taylor in CF. They have an MVP candidate in RF. Andrew Benintendi is currently rocking a 4.4 WAR season in LF. Oh and they have JD Martinez. They're not giving up a decent lefty starter for a 5th OFer.

About the only thing we have of any value to them would be Doolittle or second base help (Turner or Keiboom).

[JCA-CrystalCity]

You think there could be a match with MAT or Eaton?

Roark for Johnson, I/M/O.  Roark is a bit better track record and more expensive, but Johnson is cheaper.  If they are looking to cut cost, I don't really know . . . Fedde has better stuff but a worse track record.

[Slateman]

Roark for Johnson, I/M/O.  Roark is a bit better track record and more expensive, but Johnson is cheaper.  If they are looking to cut cost, I don't really know . . . Fedde has better stuff but a worse track record.

Johnson is a reliever at best

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Johnson is a reliever at best

starter all the way up through the minors and pretty good at spot starting / 6th man this year when called on.  A bit of a "crafty lefty" type.  I'm not obsessed about Johnson, though.  I just more was listing off the various lefties they might move to balance out the rotation, which now only has one righty in a park where you want to throw righties.

[Slateman]

They're not giving up Rodriguez because he what's going to offset Price's deal. Pomeranz is a free agent after this season and hes currently rocking an ERA north of 6. Johnson is Tommy Milone.

[Mattionals]

We're not going to be signing a bunch of aces. To me, he's a perfect "reclamation" project. 3.55 ERA in 2018.

Gray's peripheral numbers are headed in the wrong direction. I did read a Fangraphs article stating that the Yankees make him throw less fastballs and more breaking balls, which seems to be "breaking" Gray. It's like his secondary stuff isn't nearly as good as it once was because he relied heavily on his fastballs to work in his breaking stuff. Might need a different line of coaching.

[imref]

Jeff Sullivan in today's fan graphs chat noted that Corbin's velocity is falling, but he's managed to retain effectiveness. 

[blue911]

Jeff Sullivan in today's fan graphs chat noted that Corbin's velocity is falling, but he's managed to retain effectiveness.

They are using a humidor at Chase Field this year. Might help mask his decrease in velocity. I really don't know but think it's worth noting when discussing Corbin.

[PowerBoater69]

Matt Harvey, worst case he's a #5 starter, best case he rebounds and becomes our new Met killer.

[Natsinpwc]

Matt Harvey, worst case he's a #5 starter, best case he rebounds and becomes our new Met killer.

I wholeheartedly endorse that. It often takes pitchers a year or two to adjust to lost velocity.

I also think the Sonny Gray acquisition would be good. He clearly is uncomfortable pitching in NY and had a good track record in Oakland. I also believe he still has two years left before free agency. I wonder what it would take to acquire them? 

[Slateman]

They are using a humidor at Chase Field this year. Might help mask his decrease in velocity. I really don't know but think it's worth noting when discussing Corbin.

Does using a humidor have an affect on velocity?

[DCFan]

Does using a humidor have an affect on velocity?

No but it sounds all scientific and high tech so who wants to be called a denier? 

[bluestreak]

After watching the game tonight, should we consider Freeland?