The rosters were announced for this year's All-Star Game, and despite a better season than years past, the Nationals have only been rewarded with one player in this year's game.
Closer Matt Capps got the nod for this year's game thanks to his 22 saves, good for the second most in MLB, only one behind league-leader Heath Bell. Capps has been a key to the Nationals' improved bullpen this season. Last year, the Nationals' bullpen had a league-worst 5.01 ERA, this year Washington's bullpen has an ERA of 3.41.
Last year's Nationals representative, Ryan Zimmerman, still has an opportunity to make the All-Star team as a part of the Final Vote. He, along with Heath Bell, Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez and Billy Wagner are the players who can be voted in for the final spot on the National League roster. If Zimmerman is voted in, it would be the first time since 2005 the Nationals have had two All-Star representatives.
Stephen Strasburg did not make the team, despite a spectacular start to his major league career. Here's what Charlie Manuel had to say on excluding Strasburg from the final roster, via Federal Baseball:
I don't have to tell anybody, he's got a great future...What's he got, like five starts or something in the major leagues? In my experience in the game...I think of the kid, leave him alone and let him pitch. He's going to be an All-Star for a long time, and I just felt like, there's other guys out there who've started anywhere from 18-20 games, and I felt, like I said, just kinda leave him alone, let him get broken in at the major league level and he'll take care of himself."