Ace on the Nats rotation? Jordan Zimmermann

  Stephen Strasburg.  Sports Illustrated has had him on 2 covers in his career, labeled "National Treasure" and "Mr. October."  Jordan Zimmermann.  No fame at all.  No Sports Illustrated covers and when he was 4-1 and Strasburg was 1-4, and Gio Gonzalez was 1-2, ESPN said that Jordan Zimmermann is pitching great and he is "only the third best pitcher on the Nationals".  Wrong.  Currently he is the best.  Of course, Gio and Stephen have more of an upside.  If I was starting a franchise I would take Strasburg.  Currently, however in the 2013 season, Zimmermann is #1.  There is no arguing about that.  I don't care if Strasburg isn't getting run support.  He is pitching worse than Zimmermann.  Gonzalez is itching worse than Zimmermann.

   You don't have to go beyond the stat book.  Complete games by Nats pitchers this year: 2.  Complete games by Jordan Zimmermann this year: 2.  8 innings pitched by a Nats pitcher: 3.  Jordan Zimmermann: 1.  Stephen Strasburg: 0.  The wins by Nats pitchers are as follows; Jordan Zimmermann: 5, Dan Haren: 3, Gio Gonzalez, Tyler Clippard and Craig Stammen tied with 2, and finally Ross Detwiler and Stephen Strasburg with one a piece.  In the starting rotation, Jordan Zimmermann has the best ERA followed by Detwiler, Strasburg, Haren and Gonzalez.  In the starting rotation Jordan Zimmermann has the best WHIP followed by Strasburg, Gonzalez, Haren and Detwiler.  In the starting rotation, Jordan Zimmermann has the best WAR followed by Detwiler, Strasburg, Gonzalez and Haren. Jordan Zimmermann is not only leading his team, but he is 2nd in the Major League in wins and 1st in WHIP.

  With all these stats is it fair to call Stephen Strasburg a bad pitcher.  No way.  He is still a good pitcher along with Gonzalez and they deserve to be in a rotation that has potential to be the best in the big leagues.  But is it fair to Zimmermann to not mark him as the ace of the rotation this season? No, as he is clearly the best pitcher on the Nationals and one of the best so far this year in the MLB.