Major League Baseball

Washington Nationals September 2016 Month In Review

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:39 p.m. ET

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Sep 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo (L) and manager Dusty Baker (12) celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the National League Eastern Division Championship by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Nationals won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Check out our grades for the Washington Nationals offense, starting pitching, and bullpen for the month of September

September was a month of highs and lows for the Washington Nationals. While they started the month winning 10 of their first 14 games, the Nats head into the final two games of the regular season having lost eight of their last 13 games (15-12 overall record). It was a month where manager Dusty Baker had many options to choose from in games due to the expanded 40-man roster.

During this month, the Washington Nationals clinched their third NL East title in the last five seasons with over a week to go. But, this team has had its fair share of bad injuries in the month of September. Right now, the team knows they will probably be without starter Stephen Strasburg (right elbow injury) and definitely without catcher Wilson Ramos (torn ACL).

As for the rest of the injuries, Daniel Murphy hasn’t started in a game since September 17 against the Braves because of a buttocks strain. Plus, Bryce Harper came back last night after missing four games with a thumb injury (0-for-4, four strikeouts).

Despite those injuries, the Nats had some standout performers during the month of September. Anthony Rendon drove in a team-high 23 runs, Trea Turner hit a team-high seven home runs, and Max Scherzer went undefeated in five starts as he pushes for the NL Cy Young award.

So, as we have done for the first five months of the season, let’s take a look back at the month of September as I give my grades for the offense, starting rotation, and the bullpen:

Sep 27, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) hits a three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Offense: C

September was not a kind month for the Washington Nationals offense. They finished with 111 runs scored and 25 home runs, which were the fourth fewest in the National League in both categories.

If I had to name a team MVP for the month of September on offense, it would go to Anthony Rendon. While Rendon only hit .258 for the month, he hit four home runs and drove in 23 runs. The 23 RBI’s are tied with three other players for the most runs driven in in the National League.

Rendon’s contributions have been huge when you consider some of the main offensive players had some bad months. Jayson Werth hit .211 with one home runs and Bryce Harper hit .203 with one home run. But, the Nats player who had the worst offensive month was Danny Espinosa (.106, three home runs, eight RBI’s, 40 strikeouts).

On the plus side, Trea Turner continued to be the spark plug at the top of the order. The center fielder hit .330 with seven home runs, 16 RBI’s, and stole 13 bases in 16 attempts.

With the expanded rosters and the injuries, that gave the opportunities for other players to make an impact. Some notable names who did were veterans such as Stephen Drew (.297, one home run, four RBI’s) as well as rookies Brian Goodwin (.320, three RBI’s) and Wilmer Difo (.353).

It is safe to say that this offense is not on the right track heading into October. Now, this offense should be better when Murphy is back and Harper bounces back, but the loss of Ramos hurts the depth of the lineup.

Sep 27, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Rotation: B-

While the Washington Nationals didn’t have Strasburg much at all this month, Joe Ross did return to the rotation on September 18. Ross made three starts and had a 2.79 ERA in only 9.2 innings. Still, he made a good impression in those games and he should play a pivotal role in the postseason. As a team, the Nats finished September with a 3.88 ERA (sixth in the NL)

When you talk about the starting rotation, the conversation starts with Max Scherzer. In five starts, Scherzer was 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA and he had 39 strikeouts (third most in the NL). Tomorrow afternoon, he will have the chance to be the only NL pitcher with 20 wins this season.

Another pitcher who had a good month of September was Tanner Roark. While Roark had a 2.79 ERA, he went 1-3 in five starts. The problem for Roark was that the Washington Nationals only scored 11 runs in Roark’s outings (one run or fewer three times). Still, the right-hander had three straight months of a sub-three ERA.

One of Roark’s tough luck losses came on September 20 against the Miami Marlins when the Nats lost 1-0. The pitcher that Roark lost to that night was Jose Fernandez in what ended up being his last start. Fernandez died in a boating accident five days later.

A.J. Cole did get his first career win on September 3 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. After that win, Cole went 0-1 in his final five starts and never went past five innings in any of those games.

Right now, the worst pitcher in this rotation is the lone left-hander, Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez went 1-2 with a 7.43 ERA in five starts and teams were hitting .343 against him compared to .208 in August. He will be expected to play a pivotal role in the NLDS against a Dodgers team that struggles to hit against lefties.

Heading into October, the Washington Nationals can trust in Scherzer and Roark to put up quality outings. With the injury to Strasburg, it will be up to Gonzalez and Ross to pick up the rest of the slack going forward.

Sep 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Shawn Kelley (27) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Bullpen: B

When the rosters expand in September, all teams have more bullpen arms available with pitchers coming from the minor leagues. Even with those changes, the Washington Nationals have a consistent late-inning duo in Mark Melancon and Shawn Kelley.

Melancon did blow a save against his former team (Pittsburgh Pirates) on August 23, but he was 8-for-9 in save chances and has given up only two runs since September 6. Since joining the Nats, Melancon is 15-for-16 in saves with a 1.98 ERA.

As for Kelley, he had a dominant month. The right-hander went 2-0 and gave up one hit while striking out 11 in 9.1 innings (.034 batting average against). Since August 1, Kelley has given up four runs in his last 18.2 innings.

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While Blake Treinen did give up an earned run in last night’s 7-4 loss to the Marlins, he did finish the month with a 0.82 ERA in 12 games and finished with 14 strikeouts (tied with Melancon for the team lead). In the seventh inning of games this year, Treinen has a 1.56 ERA in 17.1 innings.

Another pitcher who stood out in a new role this past month was Reynaldo Lopez. As the long man, the 22-year-old gave up four runs in 14 innings while striking out 11. By showing more command of his fastball, Lopez has most likely earned his way onto the postseason roster.

The bullpen did get an added boost with the return of Sammy Solis into the mix. Solis appeared in two games this past week. By adding Solis, the Nats have a left-hander who can get lefties and righties out to go with other left-handers such as Oliver Perez (.111 average against) and Marc Rzepczynski (3.00 ERA in nine games).

Two pitchers who had bad months were Yusmeiro Petit and Koda Glover. Petit only made three appearances, but gave up five runs in 3.1 innings. As for Glover, Baker tried to use him in high leverage situations, but had a 7.27 ERA and gave up three home runs.

All in all, the bullpen showed some good signs for the Washington Nationals in September. Right now, I think fans should be confident in Melancon and Kelley going forward with the way they’ve been pitching lately. The interesting thing to watch will be how Baker uses the rest of the ‘pen once the NLDS begins.

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