The Nationals are going to be loaded in the starting rotation in 2012. They have some up and coming youngsters mixed in with some veterans, giving the rotation a very nice balance. Here is a look at how the rotation looks right now:

#1: Stephen Strasburg: 23-year old righty Stephen Strasburg will be looking to have his first complete season in the majors in 2012. He pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP. Strasburg has now pitched in 17 games (all starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 6-4 with a 2.54 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He has only given up 71 hits in 92 innings in his major league career so far and he has whiffed 116 batters while walking only 19 of them. Those are some amazing numbers! The Nationals will watch Strasburg’s workload really closely in 2012.

#2: Gio Gonzalez: 26-year old lefty Gio Gonzalez was the Nationals’ huge addition over the winter in a deal with the A’s. Gonzalez pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the A’s last year and he was 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has now pitched in 95 games (89 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 38-32 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Gonzalez has had some control issues in the past, but he also has a HUGE upside as his stuff is flat out nasty.

#3: Jordan Zimmerman: 25-year old righty Jordan Zimmerman was shut down early last season as the Nationals were being careful with him. He should be able to pitch a full year in 2012. He pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Zimmerman has now pitched in 49 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Nationals and he is 12-18 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

#4: John Lannan: 27-year old lefty John Lannan is not a power pitcher, so he fits in well on this staff full of power pitchers. Lannan pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 10-13 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 128 games (all starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 38-51 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.

#5: Chien-Ming Wang: 31-year old righty Chien-Ming Wang will likely be the #5 starter for the Nationals in 2012. He pitched in 11 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Wang has now pitched in 120 games (115 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 59-29 with 1 save, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. If Wang is finally healthy in 2012, the Nationals are going to have one of the best #5 starters in all of baseball.

Ross Detwiler: 25-year old lefty Ross Detwiler will get a shot to compete for the #5 spot in the Nationals’ rotation this year. He pitched in 11 games (all starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-5 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Detwiler has now pitched in 39 games (29 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 6-14 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Detwiler has a nice upside.

Tom Gorzelanny: 29-year old lefty Tom Gorzelanny lost his starting job about midway through last season and he’s going to get a shot this spring to win it back. He pitched in 30 games (15 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-6 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 148 games (110 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 40-43 with 1 save, a 4.57 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Gorzelanny will get a job in the Nationals’ bullpen if he loses out on a rotation spot.

Yuniesky Maya: 29-year old righty Yuniesky Maya is a longshot to win a job in the Nationals’ rotation in 2012. Maya pitched in 10 games (5 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He has now pitched in 15 games (10 starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: A

58-year old manager Jim Riggleman just keeps getting chances despite getting awful results. The Nationals were only 69-93 (42.6%) under Riggleman last year. They are now 102-135 (43%) under Jim Riggleman in his first two years in charge. Riggleman somehow has managed in the majors for 10 years despite never making the playoffs and his teams are a combined 534-714 (42.8%) on his watch. If the Nationals are going to surprise in the N.L. East in 2011, they are going to have to do it despite being overmatched almost nightly in the dugout.

The Washington Nationals will likely be going with a closer by committee approach to start the 2011 season. That is because 23-year old righty Drew Storen had a rough spring. Storen pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-4 with 5 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. He only gave up 48 hits while whiffing 52 batters in 55 1/3 innings last year which shows that he has the stuff to close. Storen will likely be the full-time closer at some point in 2011 as they have high hopes for him.

26-year old righty Tyler Clippard really stepped up last season for the Nationals. Clippard pitched in 78 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 11-8 with 1 save, a 3.07 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He only gave up 69 hits in 91 innings last year while whiffing 112 batters which shows just how nasty he was. Clippard has now pitched in 121 games (2 starts) in his first three years with the Nationals and he is 16-11 with 1 save, a 3.01 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Clippard might get some saves for the Nationals this year but they might want to keep him working as the set-up man because he’s pretty darn good in that role.

28-year old lefty Sean Burnett is also a candidate for some saves in 2011. Burnett pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-7 with 3 saves, a 2.14 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He has now pitched in 106 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 2-8 with 3 saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Burnett is a very effective lefty and he will do a solid job for the Nationals again in 2011.

30-year old righty Todd Coffey will likely help out the Nationals in the middle innings in 2011. Coffey pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 2-4 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 369 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 19-17 with 11 saves, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.

28-year old righty Chad Gaudin will be the Nationals’ long man in the pen in 2011. Gaudin pitched in 42 games (0 starts) for the Yankees and A’s last year and he was 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 258 games (75 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 35-39 with 2 saves, a 4.61 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Gaudin might also get a spot start or two for the Nationals in 2011.

31-year old lefty Doug Slaten will be the situational guy from the left side for the Nationals in 2011. Slaten pitched in 49 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has now pitched in 175 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 7-6 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Slaten will likely have another solid year as long as the Nationals don’t let him pitch to too many righty hitters.

24-year old righty Collin Balester pitched really well for the Nationals last season after they decided to use him out of the pen. He pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He whiffed 28 batters while only allowing 15 hits in his 21 innings with the Nationals last year. But, he did walk 11 batters which is too many. Balester has now pitched in 39 games (22 starts) in his first three years with the Nationals and he is 4-12 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.

27-year old righty Garrett Mock is a longshot to help the Nationals in 2011. Mock pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and a 2.70 WHIP. He has now pitched in 55 games (19 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 4-13 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

24-year old righty Henry Rodriguez will start the 2011 season on the D.L., but the Nationals have high hopes for him. He pitched in 29 games for the A’s last year out of the pen and he was 1-0 with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP as he whiffed 33 batters in only 27 2/3 innings. Rodriguez has now pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Rodriguez could develop into a late reliever down the road for the Nationals.

28-year old righty Joe Bisenius was brought back on a minor league deal over the winter. He pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 0-0 with a 9.64 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP. Bisenius also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-0 with 1 save, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP as he whiffed 46 batters in only 38 1/3 innings.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NATIONALS BULLPEN IN 2011: B

36-year old righty Livan Hernandez keeps on taking a licking and he keeps on ticking. He bounced back big time for the Nationals in 2010. He started 33 games for the Nationals last season and he was 10-12 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Hernandez has now pitched in 168 games (all starts) in his first six years with the Nationals/Expos and he is 62-59 with a 3.91 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He also seems to pitch his best ball for the Nationals, so don’t be surprised to see him put up another decent year in 2011.

28-year old lefty Tom Gorzelanny will likely be slotted #2 in the rotation to start the 2011 season for the Nationals. He pitched in 29 games (23 starts) for the Cubs last season and he was 7-9 with 1 save, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Gorzelanny has now pitched in 118 games (95 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 36-37 with 1 save, a 4.68 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He might benefit from pitching half of his games in Washington as they have a really big home field.

32-year old righty Jason Marquis will likely be the #3 starter when the 2011 season starts. He started 13 games for the Nationals last season and he was 2-9 with a 6.60 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He gave up 76 hits (9 of which were homers) in only 58 2/3 innings last season as he was pitching extended B.P. Marquis has now pitched in 303 games (244 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 96-92 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He always has seemed to follow an awful year with a decent one, so Marquis might bounce back in 2011.

26-year old soft tossing lefty John Lannan will likely be the Nationals’ #4 starter when the 2011 season begins. He started 25 games for the Nationals last season and he was 8-8 with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Lannan has now started 95 games in his first four years with the Nationals and he is 28-38 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

24-year old righty Jordan Zimmermann missed most of last season as he was recovering from a major surgery. He started 7 games for the Nationals last season and he was 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Zimmermann has now pitched in 23 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 4-7 with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Zimmermann was once one of the better prospects for the Nationals and they think he has a nice upside, so he could break out in 2011.

27-year old righty Craig Stammen will likely make a few starts for the Nationals at some point in 2011. Stammen pitched in 35 games (19 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 4-4 with a 5.13 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 54 games (38 starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 8-11 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. The Blue Jays tried to trade for Stammen last season but the Nationals rejected their overtures because they like him.

28-year old righty J.D. Martin was actually designated for assignment over the winter but the Nationals brought him back on a minor league deal. Martin started 9 games for the Nationals last season and he was 1-5 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 24 games (all starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 6-9 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Like Stammen, Martin is a good bet to get some starts for the Nationals in 2011.

25-year old lefty Ross Detwiler is another young guy that the Nationals really like. Detwiler pitched in 8 games (5 starts) for the Nationals last season and he was 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has now pitched in 24 games (19 starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 2-9 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Sometimes lefties take a little more time to develop, so the Nationals are being patient with Detwiler.

27-year old lefty Matt Chico was also designated for assignment (just like J.D. Martin) before he was signed to a minor league deal. He started 1 game for the Nationals last season and he was 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He also started 26 games in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 7-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Chico has now pitched in 43 games (40 starts) in his first three years with the Nationals and he is 7-15 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Chico could get a shot with the Nationals in 2011 as some point in the year.

23-year old lefty Shairon Martis pitched in 27 games (all starts) in AAA-ball for the Nationals last year and he was 8-7 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He last pitched for the Nationals back in 2009. Martis has pitched in 20 games (19 starts) in his first two years with the Nationals and he is 6-6 with a 5.33 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Martis will have to pitch better than he did in the minors last season if he wants to get back to Washington in 2011.

30-year old righty Chien-Ming Wang missed all of last season while rehabbing. The Nationals gave him another 1-year deal with the hope that he will return to the majors around June. Wang last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Yankees. He has pitched in 109 games (104 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. If Wang can get back to the pitcher he was with the Yankees, the Nationals are really going to have something here.

22-year old righty Stephen Strasburg will likely miss most if not all of the 2011 season as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery. The best case scenario likely has him returning in September, but don’t bank on that happening. Strasburg started 12 games for the Nationals last season and he was 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He whiffed 92 batters while only walking 17 in 68 innings which gives you a glimpse of his out of this world potential. Strasburg also started 11 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 7-2 with a 1.30 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. The Nationals need to take it slow with Strasburg’s recovery because pitchers like him don’t come around too often.

25-year old righty Luis Atilano will also likely miss most of the 2011 season as he will be rehabbing from surgery. Atilano started 16 games for the Nationals last season and he was 6-7 with a 5.15 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He also started 3 games in AAA-ball and he was 2-1 with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. The Nationals will also likely take things slow recovery wise with Atilano.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NATIONALS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: D+

31-year old righty swinging Jayson Werth will be the starting RF for the Nationals in 2011. Werth played in 156 games for the Phillies last season and he was 164 of 554 (.296 avg, .921 OPS) with 106 runs scored, 27 homers, 85 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. In Werth’s last three years, he has averaged 92.3 runs scored, 29 homers, 83.7 RBIs and 17.7 stolen bases as he has been very consistent as of late. Werth had 4 errors in RF in 135 games there while showing average range. He also showed off a strong throwing arm with 8 assists last season. I really liked the addition of Jayson Werth for the Nationals because it helped them while at the same time hurting the division rival Phillies.

Mike Morse, Roger Bernadina, Laynce Nix and Jerry Hairston can handle playing RF if Jayson Werth needs a day off or gets injured.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE NATIONALS RF IN 2011: A-