All of the eggs are in the basket for the Washington Nationals. After going 96-66 and winning an NL East Division championship, the Nats fell in the opening round last year, losing in the National League Division Series. So, they entered the offseason with an already strong product and bolstered it even more. The Nationals made the biggest splash of the offseason by signing 2013 American League Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer. The former Detroit Tiger was the consensus top free agent available this winter and signed a seven-year $210 million contract.
Scherzer joins incumbent ace Jordan Zimmerman, 2014 team ERA-leader Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg, creating the strongest starting rotation in all of baseball. The bullpen took a step back by losing Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano, but the team from top to bottom is among the favorites to win the 2015 World Series.
The lineup has every aspect you can ask for in a team. Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond, Denard Span and others complement each other with power, speed and veteran leadership. Expectations have never been higher for the Nationals as this could be the year it all comes together.
The journey begins at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne, FL where the Nationals host their Spring Training games. According to TiqIQ.com, the lowest average ticket price at Space Coast Stadium are games on March 16th against the Houston Astros and March 29th against the Miami Marlins with average ticket prices of $27. The get-in price for each game is currently $15 and $11, respectively. On the other side of the equation, the highest average ticket price is $85 (with a get-in price of $35) when the Nationals take on the New York Yankees on March 23rd.
Every year, many Nationals supporters descend upon the east coast of Florida to watch Spring Training take place. And with several different travel and lodging options, it can get a bit overwhelming. Luckily, our friends over at Hipmunk.com have a detailed Orlando flights informational guide that will enable you to choose the right airline and price for your trip. In regards to lodging, Hipmunk has several different options available with the cheapest room rates currently at hotels in Kissimmee at $45 per night.
The Nationals have the roster on paper, but they have to prove they can win when it counts. Appearing in the playoffs is a shoe-in, but the Nationals are going to have to buckle down when the playoffs come around if they want to compete for a world championship.
