Nationals Clinch Wild Card Spot With Big Chance to Be Playoff Giant Killers

After a brutal start to the 2019 season, the Washington Nationals and manager Davey Martinez got the last laugh on Tuesday night in the form of a NL Wild Card berth.

Ironically, the Nationals got the job done by sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies-- and their former face of the franchise, Bryce Harper. And make no mistake about it, Washington has a strong chance to become not just a spoiler in the MLB Postseason, but potentially a team that can catch fire and run all the way to the World Series.

Think about it: with Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation and MVP candidate Anthony Rendon at the heart of the order, would you want to face this team?

When you think about Washington, the first thing that comes to mind is their monstrous stable of starting pitchers. Scherzer had a bit of a down year by his standards due to two trips to the injured list, but he's still the best in the business when 100%, and two of his fellow pitchers stepped up big time this season in Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin.

Strasburg went 17-6 while recording a 3.37 ERA and 241 strikeouts and walking just just 56 batters. As for Corbin, Washington's coveted free agency signing this past winter, compiled a 14-7 record, while posting 230 strikeouts, 68 walks, and an impressive 3.05 ERA.

That's a devastating pitching trio if we've ever seen one.

On top of pitching, the hitting on Washington has been impressive. Rendon, who's set to command a lucrative contract in free agency, has been Washington's best bat, hitting .322 with 34 home runs, 124 RBI, and 115 runs scored. He will be a pitcher's worst nightmare in October.

Oh, and the Nationals batting order also contains slugging phenom Juan Soto, Trea Turner, and Howie Kendrick, who's had himself a career resurgence in Washington.

If Washington is to advance out of the NL Wild Card Game, they would face the Los Angeles Dodgers, many of whom are pegging the World Series favorites. Washington is just like Los Angeles as they have a dominant starting rotation and dangerous contributors in the batting order. Do NOT count out the Nats if they get their chance to shock the world and bounce the Dodgers.

Make no mistake about it, this Washington team can make some serious noise this October. They may be unlikely contenders, but they're here. And knocking them out will take any team's very best shot.