WASHINGTON -- It was supposed to be the Nationals and everybody else in the National League East in 2015. It was supposed to be a runaway for Washington after it signed right-hander Max Scherzer to a seven-year, $210 million contract before the season started. His presence was supposed to mean that the Nationals would have an unhittable rotation that included Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister.
By the time Spring Training started, outfielder Bryce Harper was already joking, "Where's my ring?" But as it turned out, the Nationals didn't even reach the postseason and finished in second place behind the Mets.