2015: Injuries + managerial goofs = bitter disappointment
The acquisition of free agent pitcher Max Scherzer in January raised hopes for yet another baseball postseason in Washington, if not a World Series. (Bryce Harper: "Where's my ring?") The departure of Adam LaRoche and the shift of Ryan Zimmerman from third to first base were the most notable changes in the Nats lineup for 2015. The new third baseman Yunel Escobar was acquired from Oakland (in exchange for Tyler Clippard), while Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth switched places between right and left field. But pre-season injuries to Anthony Rendon and Denard Span, as well as surgery to Jayson Werth, seriously depleted the Nationals' lineup in the early weeks of the 2015 season. After a mediocre start, the Nats surged ahead, replacing the New York Mets as division leaders by the latter part of May. Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer both had spectacular success, and both were selected for the All-Star Game. Scherzer pitched no-hitters on June 20 and October 3, and Harper shared the National League home run title (42 total) and was a close second in the NL batting race (.330 average). In November Harper was chosen as National League MVP, the first Washington player to be so honored since 1925. But Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, and Jayson Werth suffered injuries that kept them out of the lineup until late July. Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg was plagued by ailments until late in the season, while the bullpen repeatedly let the team down. August was just awful, as the Nats fell out of first place, replaced by the New York Mets, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 26. One day after the final game (October 4), Matt Williams was fired as manager.
CF: Michael Taylor * .229 Denard Span .301 |
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LF: Jayson Werth .221 Tyler Moore .203 |
RF: Bryce Harper .330 | |||||||||||
SS: Ian Desmond .233 | 2B: Danny Espinosa .240 Anthony Rendon .264 |
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3B: Yunel Escobar * .314 | 1B: Ryan Zimmerman .249 Clint Robinson * .272 |
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C: Wilson Ramos .224 Jose Lobaton .199 |
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Batting average for position players, ERA for pitchers. Manager: Matt Williams |
* (asterisk): new player. |
- Bryce Harper (MLBPA grievance filed) -- 2 years, $7.5 million (Dec.)
New contracts of note
"+" = bonus incentives for salary, or optional extension (mutual or otherwise) for contract length. "D" = part of salary is deferred. "AE" = arbitration eligible. "FA" = free agent signing. Dollar figures are rounded.
Batting average | Home runs | RBIs | ERA | Wins | Strikeouts | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryce Harper | .330 | Bryce Harper | 42 | Bryce Harper | 99 | Max Scherzer | 2.79 | Max Scherzer | 14 | Max Scherzer | 276 |
Opponent | Wins | Losses |
---|---|---|
ARI | 4 | 3 |
ATL | 14 | 5 |
BAL | 2 | 4 |
BOS | 1 | 2 |
CHC | 3 | 4 |
CHW | 0 | 0 |
CIN | 1 | 5 |
CLE | 0 | 0 |
COL | 3 | 3 |
DET | 0 | 0 |
HOU | 0 | 0 |
KC | 0 | 0 |
LAA | 0 | 0 |
LAD | 2 | 4 |
MIA | 10 | 9 |
MIL | 4 | 3 |
MIN | 0 | 0 |
NYM | 8 | 11 |
NYY | 3 | 1 |
OAK | 0 | 0 |
PHI | 12 | 7 |
PIT | 4 | 3 |
SD | 5 | 2 |
SEA | 0 | 0 |
SF | 3 | 4 |
STL | 2 | 4 |
TB | 1 | 3 |
TEX | 0 | 0 |
TOR | 1 | 2 |
Totals | 83 | 79 |
- Apr. 21 -- Yunel Escobar hits walk-off HR in 10th inning after Cardinals score in the 9th; WSH 2, STL 1
- Apr. 28 -- Braves led 9-1 in the 2nd, but lost. Dan Uggla 2-run triple in 7th, & 3-run HR in 9th; WSH 13, ATL 12 @
- May 6 -- Bryce Harper hits 3 home runs, Nats hold off Marlins' late rally; WSH 7, MIA 5
- May 9 -- Bryce Harper hits 2-run walk-off HR, after Nats blow lead; WSH 7, MIA 5
- May 11 -- Nats score 10 runs in first two innings; WSH 11, ARI 1
- May 19 -- Ryan Zimmerman hits 2-run walk-off HR in 10th inn., after 3 other Nats homer; WSH 8, NYY 6
- June 14 -- Max Scherzer allows one (bloop) hit, one walk, 16 strikeouts; WSH 4, MIL 0 @
- June 16 -- Nats get 23 hits, incl. 4 home runs (2 by Wilson Ramos); WSH 16, TB 4
- June 20 -- Max Scherzer is nearly perfect (HBP in 9th inn.), gets the no-hitter; WSH 6, PIT 0
- June 21 -- Nats score 9 runs in 1st inning (2 home runs); WSH 9, PIT 2
- Sept. 7 -- In critical division race game, Nats bullpen gives up 6 runs in 7th inning, 1 in 8th; NYM 8, WSH 7
- Sept. 27 -- J. Papelbon attacks Bryce Harper in dugout, then gives up 5 runs (3 unearned) in 9th inning; PHI 12, WSH 5
- Oct. 3 -- Max Scherzer is nearly perfect again (E-5 in 6th inn.), gets a 2nd no-hitter with 17 strikeouts!; WSH 2, NYM 0 @
2015 memorable moments
"@" = away game
Month | Wins | Losses | NL East place (at end) |
Number of home games |
Total attendance |
Average attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 2015 | 10 | 13 | 4th | 10 | 301,740 | 30,174 |
May 2015 | 18 | 9 | 1st | 11 | 377,561 | 34,324 |
June 2015 | 15 | 12 | 1st | 15 | 513,937 | 34,262 |
July 2015 | 11 | 13 | 1st | 11 | 403,216 | 36,656 |
Aug. 2015 | 12 | 17 | 2nd | 16 | 511,768 | 31,986 |
* Sept. 2015 | 17 | 15 | 2nd | 18 | 511,621 | 28,423 |
2015 | 83 | 79 | 2nd | 81 | 2,619,843 | 32,344 |
* Sept. data include four games in October. |
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