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Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The Score

Depth—5

Proven Ace—5

Run Prevention—5

Durability—4

Track Record—4

Total Score: 23 out of 25

Breaking Down the Score

In the end, this was a pretty easy decision. The Washington Nationals can claim the title of MLB's top rotation.

The Nats have three true aces on the roster with Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and the recently acquired Max Scherzer. While the Dodgers can match Kershaw and Greinke with any other duo in the league, only Washington can say it has a trio of No. 1 starters.

Plus the club's No. 4 and 5 starters would be ones and twos on virtually every other team in baseball. Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez give the Nationals unprecedented depth and really tip the scales in their favor. Tanner Roark also provides Washington with cover in case of an injury emergency.

Washington's rotation is deep, talented, durable and loaded with front-line starters. It'll still have to go out and produce, but on paper there's no better staff in the league.

The Stud

There's no doubt that the Nationals are in win-now mode after the acquisition of Max Scherzer.

The right-hander will join a Washington staff that was already one of the best in baseball. Scherzer won 18 games for the Tigers in 2014, striking out over 10 per nine innings and posting a 3.15 ERA.

Since 2012, Scherzer boasts the third-best WAR among major league hurlers. Only Yu Darvish can better his strikeout numbers in that time.

The 30-year-old Scherzer throws hard, but he's learned to trust his off-speed pitches as his velocity has begun to dip. The former AL Cy Young has developed a deadly changeup and a swing-and-miss slider to pair with his heater.

Scherzer isn't the only Washington pitcher capable of being an ace, but he'll be called upon to head this vaunted Nationals rotation in 2015.

The Glue

Jordan Zimmermann is one of those other Nats with ace potential.

The right-hander has been Washington's top arm over the last few seasons. Zimmermann went 14-5 in 2014 with a 2.66 ERA and over eight strikeouts per nine innings.

Zimmermann's success is pretty simple to understand—he doesn't walk many hitters and keeps the ball in the ballpark. The 28-year-old finished the season with the third-lowest mark in walks per nine, while sporting the 10th-best mark in home run per nine innings.

With Zimmermann becoming a free agent after the season, there have been whispers of potential trade talks involving the righty. But if the Nationals do start the season with him on the roster, they'll boast one of the best rotations in recent memory.

The Wild Card

On a staff busting at the seams with talent, Stephen Strasburg may possess the most natural ability.

The 6'4" hurler is the total package, with the size, skill and stuff to become one of the better pitchers in baseball history. He's proved his worth up to this point, striking out over 10 per nine and posting a career ERA of 3.02.

As good as he's been in his young career, it's scary to think the 26-year-old Strasburg can be even better. His career FIP actually hints that he may have underachieved to a certain extent.

A significant sign in his progression is the consistent drop in free passes. Strasburg cut his walks per nine innings down by almost a full walk in 2014.

Strasburg's unlimited upside provides the Nationals with three potential aces. With less pressure to be the go-to guy in 2015, Strasburg could be poised for his best season yet.

Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.