With pitchers and catchers reporting in a few days, now is the perfect time to predict how the Nationals' season will fare compared to fantasy analytics. Unlike baseball, defense doesn’t matter to fantasy fanatics. In some leagues, offensive numbers count for average, power, scoring, and stolen bases. Everything matters by position. Hurlers are rated on wins, ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, and sometimes saves.

Tim Kanak, at fantasypros.com, has tried something new, but it is generally the same. He measures rankings based on core fantasy skills (named fScores for "fantasy scores" pitching and hitting).

The most valuable players in the CBS Fantasy Baseball 300 are Bobby Witt Jr., Aaron Judge, and the injured Shohei Ohtani at $48. Most of the leagues I was involved in had a $260 cap. If Ohtani were pitching, he might be worth that price; as a designated hitter, he is not. Investing 18 percent on one of 25 slots ain't my way of doing business, but I didn't win very often.

Fantasy geeks expect the Nats to have a solid middle with CJ Abrams, James Wood, and Luis García Jr. Abrams is ranked between $18 and $19 on CBS, and Wood is valued at $15 to $19. Kanak ranks García as the sixth-best second baseman, and CBS averages him at $10. Dylan Crews also brought good news. CBS projected the Boy Wonder in the $11 range. With half the lineup accounted for, the Nats have loads of 20/20 potential. What about power?

Traditionally, the corner infield slots, an outfielder or two, and the designated hitter provide the power punch. Washington is in big trouble here, according to the geeks. Josh Bell, for example, is listed by both Fantasy Pros (FP) and CBS. He is ranked 44 out of 57 first basemen and named as a top 300 designated hitter but given a $0 figure. Will this be another break-out year for Bell?

Similarly, 1b Nathaniel Lowe is only a 15-homer-a-year guy. His 0.401 slugging percentage in 2024 was the lowest of Lowe's career. He needs more extra-base hits to help the Nats in 2025. Lowe is an improvement from 2024 but below the MLB average. Washington does not have a third base threat at this writing. Keibert Ruiz is rated as a $2 catcher on CBS. He is a light hitter who probably plays too much.

Nationals hitters are light years ahead of pitchers, according to the geeks. CBS projectors gave MacKenzie Gore a $3 value; he strikes batters out and kept his ERA under four last year. By comparison, Tarik Skubal is the most expensive pitcher in the draft, going $30 higher. Skubal offers more innings, Ks, wins, and a much lower ERA. Gore, DJ Herz, Jake Irvin, and Mitchell Parker were all listed deep on the FP list. Only reliever Derek Law is named in FPs ranking.

Washington's 2025 after luxury tax salary projection is $131 million, according to fangraphs.com. The Mets and Phillies are around $300 million. The Braves are $230 million. On the other hand, Miami is expected to spend $84 million. Who do the Learners want to compete with?

Free agent southpaw Shinnosuke Ogasawara could help the pitching staff either as a starter or long reliever, as could right-hander Michael Soroka. If Nats' starters are only expected to survive an opponent's lineup twice, the team will need at least six starters to be effective: a couple of long relievers, a setup man, and a closer.

The last time Washington had a winning record, two hurlers threw more than 200 innings in the regular season. Three pitchers accounted for more than 200 Ks each. The Nats had a four-man rotation and won the World Series. That team also had a third baseman with 44 doubles, 34 homers, 126 RBI, and a 1.010 OPS. That is a winning formula in fantasy and real life.