Liz Barr: Nationals rotation getting back on track

Liz Barr: Nationals rotation getting back on track
The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Nationals are still finding out who they are. The road has been a little bit rocky, but of late, the starting pitching seems to have found its footing, and over the last week, the pitchers have been dynamite and have been doing their best to lead the Nationals to success. It all started with Tanner Roark turning it around and having one of the best games of his life. After working with the now-traded Brandon Kintzler on his pitches, Roark faced the...
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MASN brings Fan Challenge back to Nats fans

MASN brings Fan Challenge back to Nats fans
Attention all Nationals fans: The CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Fan Challenge is back, and we want you to challenge rookie sensation Juan Soto to anything! You know that Soto is confident. The 19-year-old is probably better than you at hitting homers and chasing down balls in the outfield, but can you beat him in a cook-off, cornhole or a round of putt-putt? Whatever your challenge it is, tweet it to @masnNationals using #GoJuan. He'll pick a winner to face off in a head-to-head...
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Marty Niland: Hall of Fame still elusive for ex-Senators manager Gil Hodges

Marty Niland: Hall of Fame still elusive for ex-Senators manager Gil Hodges
Sunday's Hall of Fame inductions made it a great day for anyone who was a baseball from the 1980s through the 2000s. Seeing the enshrinement of Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jack Morris, Jim Thome and Alan Trammel brings back decades of memories. And while a few recent inductees, such as former Nationals catcher Iván Rodríguez and former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, have Washington connections, it's been quite a few years since anyone who has worn a Washington uniform...
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Opposite dugout: Mets close out July looking toward future

Opposite dugout: Mets close out July looking toward future
Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 44-59 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Wilmer Flores (.262/.318/.440, 34 RBIs), LF Michael Conforto (14 HR, 39 RBIs), CF Brandon Nimmo (13 HR, 31 RBIs), RF José Bautista (24 RBIs), RHP Noah Syndergaard (6-1, 2.89 ERA), RHP Anthony Swarzak (3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-4 Pitching probables: July 31: LHP Steven Matz (5-8) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (4-12), 7:05 p.m., MASN2Aug. 1: RHP Noah Syndergaard (6-1) vs. LHP Tommy Milone (0-0), 12:05...
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Ryan Sullivan: Nationals should be sellers at trade deadline

Ryan Sullivan: Nationals should be sellers at trade deadline
The 2018 season has been a constant struggle for the Nationals due to injuries to key performers and subpar performance from others. Presently, the Nationals have a record of 51-51 and are seven games behind Philadelphia in the National League East and 4 1/2 games back for a wild card berth. With the news of Stephen Strasburg returning to the disabled list, Washington's playoff chances are dwindling by the day. The stark reality is general manager Mike Rizzo and the Nationals should probably...
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Opposite dugout: Despite absence of stars, Marlins still competing

Opposite dugout: Despite absence of stars, Marlins still competing
Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 44-59 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Starlin Castro (.287 with 116 hits, 60 runs); 1B Justin Bour (16 HR, 47 RBIs); RF Brian Anderson (.285 with 113 hits, 23 2B); C J.T. Realmuto (.304 with 49 RBIs); RHP Dan Straily (4-4, 4.02 ERA); CL Kyle Barraclough (2.45 ERA, 10 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-6 Pitching probables: July 26: RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-7) vs. RHP Dan Straily (4-4); 7:10 p.m., MASNJuly 27: RHP Max Scherzer (13-5) vs. RHP...
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Liz Barr: Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace have been quietly effective

Liz Barr: Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace have been quietly effective
Are the Nationals doing well? To put it simply, no. But if we keep focusing on the negatives, we will all drive ourselves crazy. So instead, we're going to focus on a few bright spots, and today we're going to look in an unorthodox place at a few guys who have had some under-the-radar good years: in the bullpen at Shawn Kelley and Matt Grace. Kelley has gotten a little bit of a bad rep in town, especially coming off his poor 2017 season. Fans feared that 2018 would be more of the same, and it...
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Marty Niland: Hail to "The Chief": Remembering dominant closer Chad Cordero

Marty Niland: Hail to "The Chief": Remembering dominant closer Chad Cordero
Many Nationals fans were dismayed by Sunday's news that closer Sean Doolittle will remain on the disabled list for a few more weeks after a setback in his recovery from a left foot injury. Although Doolittle has excelled as a closer since coming in trade from Oakland last season, he still has a way to go to catch the most dominant closer Washington has ever seen, Chad Cordero. The 36-year-old former Nat was one of the most popular former players at the autograph tables during All-Star FanFest...
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Opposite dugout: Playoff-minded Brewers want to be buyers at deadline

Opposite dugout: Playoff-minded Brewers want to be buyers at deadline
Manager: Craig Counsell (4th year) Record: 56-45 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: LF Christian Yelich (.303 with 12 HR, 47 RBIs), 1B Jesús Aguilar (.293 with 25 HR, 71 RBIs), CF Lorenzo Cain (.293/.391/.421 with 18 SB), RHP Jhoulys Chacin (8-3, 3.68 ERA), LHP Josh Hader (1.44 ERA, 93 Ks), RHP Corey Knebel (12 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: July 23: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-6) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (8-3), 8:10 p.m., MASN2 July 24: RHP Jeremy...
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Opposite dugout: Braves looking to carry momentum into second half

Opposite dugout: Braves looking to carry momentum into second half
Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season) Record: 52-42 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 2B Ozzie Albies (.281 with 20 HR, 55 RBIs); RF Nick Markakis (.323 with 61 RBIs, 120 hits); 1B Freddie Freeman (.315 with 61 RBIs, 114 hits); CF Ender Inciarte (88 hits, 23 SB); RHP Aníbal Sánchez (4-2, 2.60 ERA); LHP A.J. Minter (3.20 ERA, 4 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 6-4 Pitching probables: July 20: RHP Aníbal Sánchez (4-2) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (6-6); 7:05 p.m., MASN2July 21: LHP Sean...
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Some random thoughts about the All-Star festivities in D.C.

Some random thoughts about the All-Star festivities in D.C.
Some random observations about the All-Star Game festivities at Nationals Park from a writer covering his first Midsummer Classic ... * Though I really hate it when I see a team's jersey that's not one of the teams playing in a game - say, an interloper in Yankees pinstripes at a Reds-Nationals game - it's been fun to see jerseys from all 30 major league teams already at Nationals Park. I've even seen a few retro throwbacks - think Senators, Browns, Expos, Pilots - for teams who have long...
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Ryan Sullivan: Garcia offers a glimpse at Nationals' future

Ryan Sullivan: Garcia offers a glimpse at Nationals' future
One of the many terrific events that occur during All-Star Game week is the Futures Game, an annual exhibition consisting of the top prospects in baseball. The Futures Game began in 1999 and the rosters consist of a team of prospects from the United States against a team of players from other countries. Major League Baseball, MLB.com and Baseball America decide the teams and the Nationals will be represented by infielders Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia on Sunday. I wrote about Kieboom a few...
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Special jersey has special meaning for Senators' Logan Darnell

Special jersey has special meaning for Senators' Logan Darnell
When Double-A Harrisburg lefty Logan Darnell pulls on his home jersey for the Senators' game against Bowie on July 26 at FNB Field, it'll mean a little more than usual. That's the night the Senators will don special jerseys on End Alzheimer's Night. Darnell lost his mother, Caye, 59, to Alzheimer's disease on April 13, and has been working with team management to come up with creative ways to mix his mound work and the need to raise funds and awareness. The jerseys from End Alzheimer's...
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Liz Barr: Another All-Star Game, another snub for Anthony Rendon

Liz Barr: Another All-Star Game, another snub for Anthony Rendon
There were a number of deserving players left off the All-Star Game rosters, and perhaps none more than Anthony Rendon, who was not even given the Final Vote treatment that teammate Trea Turner received. It feels like we say this about Rendon every year around the All-Star break, but he always plays fantastic baseball and nobody ever gives him the time of day or recognizes his accomplishments on the diamond. It's no stretch to say that Rendon is worthy of a nod. Maybe not the most overwhelming...
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Opposite dugout: Mets host struggling Nationals ahead of All-Star break

Opposite dugout: Mets host struggling Nationals ahead of All-Star break
Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 37-53 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Asdrúbal Cabrera (.280 with 16 HR, 51 RBIs), CF Brandon Nimmo (13 HR), LHP Steven Matz (3.31 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (16 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-2 Pitching probables: July 12: RHP Max Scherzer (11-5) vs. LHP Steven Matz (4-6), 7:10 p.m., MASNJuly 13: RHP Tanner Roark (3-11) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (4-1), 7:10 p.m., MASNJuly 14: TBA vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-6), 4:10., MASNJuly 15: RHP...
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Marty Niland: Cracker Jack Classic brought stars to baseball-hungry D.C.

Marty Niland: Cracker Jack Classic brought stars to baseball-hungry D.C.
Now that the starting lineups have been announced and the rosters filled, Washington is abuzz about the 89th Major League Baseball All-Star game. Many historians will tell you will that the July 17 game will be the fifth All-Star meeting in the nation's capital, the first since 1969, and they'd be technically correct. However, each summer from 1982 to 1987, Washington baseball fans saw something arguably better come to RFK Stadium. The Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic featured lineups...
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Opposite dugout: Pirates quickly losing the wind in their sails

Opposite dugout: Pirates quickly losing the wind in their sails
Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 41-48 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Starling Marte (.278 with 10 HR, 22 SB); LF Corey Dickerson (.308 with 92 hits, 19 2B); 1B Josh Bell (76 hits, 42 RBIs); RHP Trevor Williams (6-7, 4.60 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (4-6, 4.48 ERA); LHP Felipe Vázquez (3.38 ERA, 18 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-4 Pitching probables: July 9: RHP Erick Fedde (1-3) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (4-6); 7:00 p.m., MASN2July 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) vs. RHP Joe Musgrove...
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Send Trea Turner to All-Star Game through MLB's Final Vote

Send Trea Turner to All-Star Game through MLB's Final Vote
We now know which Nationals will represent the host city in this year's MLB All-Star Game. Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer and Sean Doolittle have officially been selected to the National League All-Star team and will represent D.C. at Nats Park during the upcoming Midsummer Classic. But there could be one more. While Trea Turner wasn't selected in the initial All-Star ballot, you can still send the Nationals shortstop to the All-Star Game via the Final Vote taking place this week! Why should you...
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Ryan Sullivan: Hey, now, (I hope) you're an All-Star

Ryan Sullivan: Hey, now, (I hope) you're an All-Star
After years of hype and anticipation, the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., is only 11 days away. The fan vote concluded Thursday and on Sunday, the American and National League will announce 31 of the 32 members of the 2018 All-Star Game rosters. It would be a travesty if Trea Turner is not selected. Somewhat lost amid this peculiar season for the Nationals has been Turner's development as perhaps the best shortstop in the NL and one of the best in the majors. The...
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Opposite Dugout: Marlins travel to nation's capital for four-game series against struggling Nationals

Opposite Dugout: Marlins travel to nation's capital for four-game series against struggling Nationals
Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 36-52 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (.306), 1B Justin Bour (13 HR, 37 RBIs), RF Brian Anderson (41 RBIs), 2B Starlin Castro (.292, .340, .397) RHP Kyle Barraclough (8 saves, 1.17 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: July 5: RHP Pablo López (1-0) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1), 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 6: RHP Dan Straily (3-4) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-5), 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 7: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-5) vs. RHP Max...
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