Flying Under the Radar

In a rotation with Stephan Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez it is easy to look over Jordan Zimmerman. National fans know that he is just as important as the previously mentioned starters. Strasburg has a 2.66 ERA, 10 wins, and 135 strikeouts in 2012. Gonzalez has 2.93 ERA, 12 wins, and 127 strikeouts. Zimmerman has a shockingly low 2.35 ERA, 7 wins, and 84 strikeouts.

Zimmerman is 26 years old and has been on the Nationals since 2009. In 2011 Zimmerman flashed what he could do with a 3.18 ERA over 161 innings. Zimmerman won't blow you away with his fastball or strike you out with his curve ball, but he will get you out. It doesn't matter how you get the guy out as long as he is out. He not only has the lowest ERA on the Nationals but also has the most innings pitched with 122.1.

Zimmerman is just icing on the cake for the Nationals. They have the best pitching rotation in all of baseball. Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmerman, Detwiler*, and Jackson sums up to be a dangerous combination of both the ability to go far into the game and being dominant throughout. These 5 guys combine for a 2.97 ERA over 527 innings pitched.

*Some of Detwiler's work was done out of the bullpen.