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  6. article_body => "<p dir=\"ltr\">The most common over\/under number set for the Nationals win total this season is 92.5. It's&nbsp;a high number, though slightly lower than some of the other superteams in the sport.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The high number shows&nbsp;faith in this year's team to continue the success they've found the last several years, and considering the looming potential departures, it may be the last time for a while that we enter a season with this much excitement surrounding the roster.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">We've put together a few of our&nbsp;predictions for how the season will go, in addition to rounding up several expert MLB predictions from media outlets around the country.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">If these predictions mean anything, we can start printing those NL East champion banners already.<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>2018 MLB Season Predictions for the Washington Nationals<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RyanWarmly\"><strong>Ryan Wormeli:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Washington Nationals record prediction:<\/strong> 96-66. Stacked roster, weak division, means 95+ wins is very attainable.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>NL East finish:<\/strong> 1st place (easiest prediction ever)<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Postseason finish: <\/strong>NLDS Game 5. Fans aren\u2019t going to love this prediction, but unfortunately, I\u2019m in the \u201cgotta see it to believe it\u201d camp in terms of D.C. postseason success.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Team MVP: <\/strong>Max Scherzer. Bryce Harper is the big name, Trea Turner is the fantasy star, and Anthony Rendon is the underrated stud. But true aces are a dying breed in this&nbsp;era of Major League Baseball, and Scherzer is as good as it gets.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>One bold prediction:&nbsp;<\/strong>Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer will take&nbsp;home the MVP and Cy Young, respectively, but it will be Anthony Rendon who leads the team in Wins Above Replacement.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KingsleyEllis\"><strong>Cam Ellis:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Washington Nationals record prediction:&nbsp;<\/strong>92-70<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>NL East finish:&nbsp;<\/strong>1st<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Postseason finish:&nbsp;<\/strong>NLCS<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Team MVP:&nbsp;<\/strong>Max Scherzer<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>One bold prediction:<\/strong> Trea Turner is going to be a 30-30 guy this year.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/mlb-2018-power-rankings-preseason-edition\">2018 MLB POWER RANKINGS<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Bonus Media Predictions:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theringer.com\/mlb\/2018\/3\/29\/17174180\/2018-mlb-season-predictions-astros-dodgers-mike-trout\">The Ringer<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">7 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL East<br>3 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant<br>1 out of 7 experts has Nationals winning the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/projects.fivethirtyeight.com\/2018-mlb-predictions\/\">FiveThirtyEight<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Washington Nationals record projection: 93-69<br>65% chance to win NL East<br>8% chance to win the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/blog\/keith-law\/insider\/post?id=8214\">Keith Law<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/blog\/keith-law\/insider\/post?id=8214\"> (ESPN)<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Washington Nationals record prediction: 94-68<br>NL East finish: 1st<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/2018\/03\/28\/2018-mlb-predictions-world-series-mvp-cy-young\/464182002\/\">USA Today<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Average predicted record: 94-68<br>7 out&nbsp;of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL East<br>3 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant<br>0 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/mlb\/story\/_\/id\/22919123\/2018-espn-expert-predictions-which-superteam-rule-baseball\">ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">74% fan vote to win NL East<br>22% fan vote to win NL pennant<br>5% fan vote to win the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/mlb\/news\/2018-mlb-opening-day-cbs-sports-staff-picks-and-predictions-for-divisions-world-series-mvp-cy-young-and-more\/\">CBS Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">5 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning NL East<br>3 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant<br>2 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb-predictions-2018-world-series-picks-standings-award-winners-072838079.html\">Yahoo! Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">6 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning NL East<br>2 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant<br>0 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantasypros.com\/2018\/03\/2018-mlb-predictions-standings-leaders-awards\/\">FantasyPros<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Washington Nationals record prediction: 89-73<br>NL East finish: 1st<br>Postseason finish: Lose to&nbsp;Yankees&nbsp;in the World Series<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbnation.com\/a\/mlb-2018-season-preview\/mlb-2018-predictions-team-by-team\">SB Nation<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">NL East finish: 1st<br>Postseason finish: Lose to Cardinals in NLDS<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/san-diego\/story\/predictions-for-the-2018-mlb-season-032818\">Fox Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">NL East finish: 1st<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For those keeping track at home, that's 32&nbsp;out of 32&nbsp;predictions that have the Washington Nationals winning the NL East this season, though only 3 experts were confident enough to choose the Nats as their World Series champions.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Either way, it's shaping up to be another great season of baseball in Washington, with lots of wins ahead this summer. Hopefully for fans in D.C., the wins keep coming in October this time around.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong><em>RELATED: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/2018-mlb-offseason-grades-every-team\">OFFSEASON GRADES FOR EVERY MLB TEAM<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n"
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Nationals

Nationals

The most common over/under number set for the Nationals win total this season is 92.5. It's a high number, though slightly lower than some of the other superteams in the sport.

The high number shows faith in this year's team to continue the success they've found the last several years, and considering the looming potential departures, it may be the last time for a while that we enter a season with this much excitement surrounding the roster.

We've put together a few of our predictions for how the season will go, in addition to rounding up several expert MLB predictions from media outlets around the country.

If these predictions mean anything, we can start printing those NL East champion banners already.

2018 MLB Season Predictions for the Washington Nationals

Ryan Wormeli:

Washington Nationals record prediction: 96-66. Stacked roster, weak division, means 95+ wins is very attainable.

NL East finish: 1st place (easiest prediction ever)

Postseason finish: NLDS Game 5. Fans aren’t going to love this prediction, but unfortunately, I’m in the “gotta see it to believe it” camp in terms of D.C. postseason success.

Team MVP: Max Scherzer. Bryce Harper is the big name, Trea Turner is the fantasy star, and Anthony Rendon is the underrated stud. But true aces are a dying breed in this era of Major League Baseball, and Scherzer is as good as it gets.

One bold prediction: Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer will take home the MVP and Cy Young, respectively, but it will be Anthony Rendon who leads the team in Wins Above Replacement.

Cam Ellis:

Washington Nationals record prediction: 92-70

NL East finish: 1st

Postseason finish: NLCS

Team MVP: Max Scherzer

One bold prediction: Trea Turner is going to be a 30-30 guy this year.

RELATED: 2018 MLB POWER RANKINGS

Bonus Media Predictions:

The Ringer

7 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL East
3 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant
1 out of 7 experts has Nationals winning the World Series

FiveThirtyEight

Washington Nationals record projection: 93-69
65% chance to win NL East
8% chance to win the World Series

Keith Law (ESPN)

Washington Nationals record prediction: 94-68
NL East finish: 1st

USA Today

Average predicted record: 94-68
7 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL East
3 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant
0 out of 7 experts have Nationals winning the World Series

ESPN

74% fan vote to win NL East
22% fan vote to win NL pennant
5% fan vote to win the World Series

CBS Sports

5 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning NL East
3 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant
2 out of 5 experts have Nationals winning the World Series

Yahoo! Sports

6 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning NL East
2 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning NL pennant
0 out of 6 experts have Nationals winning the World Series

FantasyPros

Washington Nationals record prediction: 89-73
NL East finish: 1st
Postseason finish: Lose to Yankees in the World Series

SB Nation

NL East finish: 1st
Postseason finish: Lose to Cardinals in NLDS

Fox Sports

NL East finish: 1st

 

For those keeping track at home, that's 32 out of 32 predictions that have the Washington Nationals winning the NL East this season, though only 3 experts were confident enough to choose the Nats as their World Series champions.

Either way, it's shaping up to be another great season of baseball in Washington, with lots of wins ahead this summer. Hopefully for fans in D.C., the wins keep coming in October this time around.

RELATED: OFFSEASON GRADES FOR EVERY MLB TEAM