Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Marlins occupy NL East basement

Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Marlins occupy NL East basement
Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 19-30 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (316 with 6 HR, 16 RBIs), 2B Starlin Castro (.293 with 21 RBIs), 1B Justin Bour (9 HR, 23 RBIs), RHP Elieser Hernandez (0-1, 2.08 ERA), RHP Brad Ziegler (9 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (6-13 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 25: RHP Max Scherzer (7-1) vs. RHP José Ureña (0-7), 7:10 p.m., MASN2 May 26: RHP Tanner Roark (2-4) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (1-2), 4:10 p.m., MASN2...
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Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts

Liz Barr: Hellickson deserves a chance to go deeper in starts
The Nationals rotation has been nothing but dominant this season. It is leading the National League in just about every fathomable category, including innings pitched and pitches per start. Nats starters have been going deeper, staying in longer, and pitching more than anybody else. That is, except for Jeremy Hellickson. Hellickson has been a blessing, and he's been the perfect fit for that fifth rotation spot. He is putting up fabulous numbers; so far this season, he has not given up more...
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Marty Niland: Soto joins ranks of teen phenoms in D.C.

Marty Niland: Soto joins ranks of teen phenoms in D.C.
The newest National, Juan Soto, got a nice ovation Sunday when he came to bat in the eighth inning as the youngest player currently in the major leagues at 19. He struck out in his debut, but with the Nationals lineup currently decimated by injuries, there will be plenty of opportunities for Soto to make an impact at the big league level after playing just 39 games in the minor leagues this season and 122 overall. Soto joins dozens of players who broke into the majors as teenagers, including...
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Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer

Opposite dugout: Padres have to pick it up at plate to have a prayer
Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 20-28 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.268/.366/.482, 16 doubles), 3B Christian Villanueva (12 HR, 26 RBIs), LF Franchy Cordero (5 SB, 6 HR), RF Travis Jankowski (.359/.438/.469), RHP Tyson Ross (3.35 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (14 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: (1-2) Pitching probables: May 21: LHP Robbie Erlin (1-2) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-0), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 22: LHP Eric Lauer (1-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: You go, Dan Kolko!

"MASN All Access" podcast: You go, Dan Kolko!
You've seen him on TV. You've heard him on the radio. You've heard him on his podcast. Now, you can hear him on ours. Paul and I are back with a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast and we are joined by a very special guest: the one, the only, MASN's Dan Kolko. Obviously, Dan has graced you with his presence on MASN's broadcasts of Nationals games and the pre and postgame "Nats Xtra" shows. But did you know that Dan started at MASN laying the groundwork for what Paul and I do...
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Ryan Sullivan: Could rain-wrecked schedule actually benefit Nationals?

Ryan Sullivan: Could rain-wrecked schedule actually benefit Nationals?
After an incredibly successful road trip, including a four-game sweep of the National League West-leading Diamondbacks, the Nationals returned to Washington for an eight-game homestand riding a tidal wave of momentum. The team played 17 consecutive days going back to April 27 and transformed its subpar 11-15 record into the present 24-18 mark. In addition, the two scheduled off-days on Monday and Thursday this week would help recharge everyone's collective batteries. Unfortunately, Mother...
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Opposite dugout: Is it time to wave the white flag for the Dodgers? (updated)

Opposite dugout: Is it time to wave the white flag for the Dodgers? (updated)
Manager: Dave Roberts (3rd season) Record: 17-26 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: 3B Justin Turner (.462, 5 RBIs), 1B Cody Bellinger (6 HR, 19 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.278 with 7 HR, 26 RBIs), LHP Alex Wood (0-4, 3.35 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (3.57 ERA, 6 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: May 18: RHP Ross Stripling (0-1) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (7-1), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 19: LHP Rich Hill (1-2) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (2-3), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 20: LHP Alex Wood (0-4) vs. RHP...
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Johnny Holliday nominated for National Radio Hall of Fame

Johnny Holliday nominated for National Radio Hall of Fame
Johnny Holliday, co-host of the "Nats Xtra" pregame and postgame shows on MASN, has been nominated for the 2018 class of the National Radio Hall of Fame. Holliday is nominated in the category for local/regional broadcasters with 20 or more years in the industry. Long before he joined MASN, Holliday was a successful rock and roll disc jockey, working with legendary announcer Murray the K on WINS in New York, and spinning tunes on San Francisco's KYA, the top 40 giant where he drew acclaim as...
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Liz Barr: Rendon's return has sparked Nationals

Liz Barr: Rendon's return has sparked Nationals
He's our favorite player, he's Trea Turner's favorite player: it's Tony Two Bags himself, Anthony Rendon. We all missed him when he was out unexpectedly long after fouling a ball off his foot, and the offense suffered in his absence. But now that he's back, he's thriving, the team is thriving, we're all thriving. Since Rendon's return on May 5, the Nationals have gone 7-2, and they've scored 32 runs through those nine games, which averages to about 3.5 per game. But with the way the...
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Marty Niland: Adams' homer tear conjures up memories of Howard's historic 1968 streak

Marty Niland: Adams' homer tear conjures up memories of Howard's historic 1968 streak
Nationals fans are hopeful again, with the club coming off 6-1 road trip and threatening to return to the top of the National League East standings. One key has been the powerful bat of Matt Adams, who homered seven times in five games from May 1 through the May 7 win over San Diego. A weekly slash line of .400/.516/1.240 is impressive for the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder known as "Big City," but it brings to mind an even bigger streak by an even bigger man. Frank Howard, the 6-foot-7, 280-lb....
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Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East

Opposite Dugout: Surging Yankees holding down first place in AL East
Manager: Aaron Boone (1st season) Record: 28-12 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: RF Aaron Judge (.311 with 11 HR, 35 RBIs), DH Giancarlo Stanton (10 HR, 26 RBIs), SS Didi Gregorius (10 HR, 31 RBIs), 2B Gleyber Torres (.319), LHP CC Sabathia (2-0, 2.23 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (9 saves), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-3 in 2015) Pitching Probables: May 15: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (4-2) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 16: LHP CC Sabathia (2-0) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...
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Ryan Sullivan: The trickle-down effect of Eaton's latest setback

Ryan Sullivan: The trickle-down effect of Eaton's latest setback
On Thursday evening, news unfortunately broke that Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton underwent surgery on his ankle and will miss much of the rest of the season. Eaton injured himself in the Nationals' home opener on a slide into home, and regrettably it took doctors over a month to properly diagnose the ailment. Now, for the second consecutive year, he will spend the majority of the season on the disabled list. Speaking for all Nationals fans, we wish him a speedy recovery. Eaton's lengthy...
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Opposite dugout: First-place Diamondbacks have yet to lose a series

Opposite dugout: First-place Diamondbacks have yet to lose a series
Manager: Torey Lovullo (2nd season) Record: 24-12 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF A.J. Pollock (.308 with 11 HR, 32 RBIs), RF David Peralta (6 HR, 19 RBIs), SS Nick Ahmed (6 HR, 18 RBIs), RHP Matt Koch (2-0, 2.13 ERA), RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 4.10 ERA), RHP Brad Boxberger (2.25 ERA, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: May 10: RHP Tanner Roark (2-2) vs. RHP Zack Greinke (3-2), 9:40 p.m., MASN2 May 11: RHP Max Scherzer (6-1) vs. Matt Koch (2-0), 9:40 p.m., MASN2 May...
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Liz Barr: Comparing Matt Adams to Adam Lind

Liz Barr: Comparing Matt Adams to Adam Lind
When the Nationals didn't re-sign Adam Lind over the offseason, Nats faithful were heartbroken. Lind had become a fan favorite, and the left-handed slugger was incredibly important to the club all last season, providing a huge lift off the bench and filling in in the starting lineup when the Nats needed him most. But when they let him go, the question remained: Who was going to fill that giant hole left by Lind's absence? Enter Matt Adams. Adams and Lind essentially have the same role:...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Nats are who we thought they were

"MASN All Access" podcast: Nats are who we thought they were
Runs galore? Check. Dominant pitching? Check. Winning homestand? Check. Above .500? Check. The Nationals checked off a lot of boxes while going 7-3 over this past homestand, and Paul Mancano and I are back on the "MASN All Access" podcast to wrap it all up. Now back over the .500 mark and just two games back in a tight National League East, the Nats are playing some good baseball lately and are hot heading back out west. Wilmer Difo capped off the happy homestand with a walk-off base hit in...
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Marty Niland: Hall of Stars induction finally shines spotlight on Buddy Myer

Marty Niland: Hall of Stars induction finally shines spotlight on Buddy Myer
Sunday was a great day for Washington sports. Before celebrating the Nationals' first walk-off victory of 2018, fans at Nationals Park got to see another set of local heroes inducted to the Washington Hall of Stars. In addition to fairly recent greats, like basketball stars Len Bias, Grant Hill and Walt Williams, came Buddy Myer, a baseball star from the distant past. His induction to the local hall was a step toward righting what his fans feel is the injustice of Myer's exclusion from the...
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Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West

Opposite dugout: Padres once again scuffling in NL West
Manager: Andy Green (3rd season) Record: 13-22 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 1B Eric Hosmer (.297 with 5 HR, 12 RBIs), 3B Christian Villanueva (.265 with 9 HR, 20 RBIs), LF Jose Pirela (.250 with 35 hits, 11 RBIs), RHP Tyson Ross (2-2, 3.28 ERA); LHP Joey Lucchesi (3-2, 3:13 ERA), LHP Brad Hand (8 saves, 2.70 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-5 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 7: RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-3) vs. RHP Tyson Ross (2-2), 10:10 p.m., MASNMay 8: RHP Jeremy...
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Ryan Sullivan: Soto's blasts are burned in memory

Ryan Sullivan: Soto's blasts are burned in memory
On Thursday evening, I drove to Woodbridge, Va., to see the Single-A Potomac Nationals, primarily to watch Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon's first game on his minor league rehab assignment for the purposes of this guest blog. Rendon injured his big toe by fouling a ball off his foot and has not played since April 13, leaving a mammoth hole in Washington's lineup in recent weeks. Rendon batted third and served as the designated hitter for the P-Nats, unfortunately keeping me from seeing...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies in a slump after an impressive early-season run

Opposite dugout: Phillies in a slump after an impressive early-season run
Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 17-13 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Odúbel Herrera (.337 with .392 OBP), 3B Maikel Franco (.261 with 23 RBIs), OF Aaron Altherr (.207/.305/.390), RHP Jake Arrieta (3-1, 3.49 ERA), RHP Hector Neris (5 saves, 3.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (8-11 in 2017) Pitching probables: May 4: RHP Nick Pivetta (1-1) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 5: RHP Vince Velasquez (1-4) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (2-2), 4:05 p.m., MASNMay...
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Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?

Liz Barr: Who should stay in Nats' revolving bullpen?
Sammy Solís and the Law Firm have been able to sit back with their shades on while the rest of the Nationals bullpen has been in and out of a revolving door. The bullpen has been less than consistent this year, not just in its performance, but in its personnel. Due to injuries, call-ups, and players being designated for assignment, the supporting cast has been changing all year. The question is, after everyone is properly healthy, who should stay? Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and Brandon...
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