District 34 podcast: Figuring out Nats' playoff roster after clinching division

District 34 podcast: Figuring out Nats' playoff roster after clinching division
On the last episode of the District 34 podcast, Byron and I were counting down to the Nationals clinching their second straight division title. Well, on Sept. 10, they did (with some help from the Braves) to secure the team's fourth National League East crown in six seasons and a spot in this year's playoffs. To start this episode, we recap the celebration that took place at Nationals Park that day and what this division championship means for the Nats, Dusty Baker and Washington, D.C. as a...

District 34 podcast: Nats still recovering during final playoff push

District 34 podcast: Nats still recovering during final playoff push
Long time no see, Nationals fans! Sorry for the hiatus over the past couple of weeks, but have no fear, we are finally back with a new episode of the District 34 podcast! The Nationals' magic number to clinch the National League East is down to 10, so they can theoretically clinch their second straight division title within a week. That's quite an accomplishment considering how many injuries this ballclub has endured throughout the season. Byron Kerr and I run through the injury list and...

District 34 podcast: Nats make blockbuster trade to bolster bullpen

District 34 podcast: Nats make blockbuster trade to bolster bullpen
It was always a matter of when not if the Nationals would make a trade to bolster their bullpen, and it finally happened over the weekend. Byron Kerr and I are back to break down the acquisition of right-hander Ryan Madson and left-hander Sean Doolittle from the A's and the ripple effect on the Nats bullpen on a new episode of the District 34 podcast. Madson and Doolittle both made their Nationals debuts in a 4-3 win over the Angels Tuesday night, with the righty putting together a shutdown...

District 34 podcast: Nats falter in Miami and Gonzalez's All-Star case

District 34 podcast: Nats falter in Miami and Gonzalez's All-Star case
After 20 games in 20 straight days, the Nationals are finally enjoying a well-deserved off-day today at home. Before starting a 17-day stretch of games leading up the All-Star break, the Nats are happy to be in the comfort of their own homes in D.C. after going 4-3 on their latest road trip. And what an interesting road trip that was for Byron Kerr and I to discuss on this episode of the District 34 podcast. After taking three of four from the Mets in New York, the Nationals flew down to Miami...

District 34 podcast: Nats cruising through West Coast swing

District 34 podcast: Nats cruising through West Coast swing
On what is usually considered a dreaded West Coast road trip, the Nationals have cruised to a 6-1 record through the first seven games, allowing us to slide into a new episode of the District 34 podcast. Byron Kerr and I are back to recap the Nats' West Coast swing so far, in which they are outscoring their opponents 44-29 over a three-game sweep of the Giants, winning two out of three against the Athletics and winning the opener versus the Dodgers. The lineup is slugging, the pitchers are...

District 34 podcast: Bryce Harper's 2018 salary and Nats bullpen solutions

District 34 podcast: Bryce Harper's 2018 salary and Nats bullpen solutions
It's baseball from here on out in Washington, D.C., after the local hockey and basketball teams' respective playoff runs came to bitter ends. That being said, it's always baseball on the District 34 podcast with myself and Byron Kerr, presented by MASNsports.com. And the Nationals, a first-place team with a nine-game lead in the National League East, are always an exciting team to talk about. For this week's episode, let's first discuss the big news from over the weekend of Bryce Harper...

District 34 podcast: Crossover episode for Battle of the Beltways

District 34 podcast: Crossover episode for Battle of the Beltways
Come one, come all, baseball fans of the DMV: It's time for our annual District 34-Yard Work crossover episode for the Battle of the Beltways between the Nationals and Orioles! Bobby Blanco and Byron Kerr are joined by Brian Eller of MASNsports.com's Yard Work podcast to discuss this earlier-than-usual Beltway Series and talk all things Nats and O's. The Birds were able to take Game 1 at Camden Yards on Monday Night, thanks to three first-inning home runs off Gio Gonzalez and a baserunning...

Quietly, like a pro, Wilmer Difo keeps Nats rolling

Quietly, like a pro, Wilmer Difo keeps Nats rolling
He made another big play defensively in the ninth inning to help Shawn Kelley earn the save as the Nationals swept out of Atlanta with a 3-2 win over the Braves. I am talking about 25-year-old shortstop Wilmer Difo, who has done a very good job of playing defense and has worked hard in each at-bat. He has been crucial to the Nationals, not missing a beat while Trea Turner and Stephen Drew recover from right hamstring strains. Difo has started eight games since April 11. He has committed only...

District 34 podcast: Nats rolling to start season

District 34 podcast: Nats rolling to start season
If you're Capitals or Wizards fan like I am, you'll probably join me in being thankful that the Nationals are cruising along through these first couple of weeks of the season. While stressing during the Caps and Wizards' playoff wins last night, it was nice to watch the Nats roll the Braves for an easy 14-4 victory. And with the big win at the new SunTrust Park came a lot of news out of the Nationals clubhouse, giving Byron Kerr and myself a lot to talk about on this week's episode of the...

District 34 podcast: Recapping Nats' opening day win

District 34 podcast: Recapping Nats' opening day win
What an exciting opening day at Nats Park on Monday! The new baseball season got off on the right foot for the Nationals as they beat the Marlins 4-2 in front of a sellout home crowd. This opening day had everything a Nats fan could want: fantastic pregame ceremonies, strong starting pitching, home runs, efficient bullpen work and of course a Nationals victory. And an eventful opening day means we have a lot to talk about on the District 34 podcast to get you through the first off-day of the...

District 34 podcast: 2017 Nationals season preview

District 34 podcast: 2017 Nationals season preview
Baseball is back and that means so is the District 34 podcast presented by MASNsports.com! Bobby Blanco and Byron Kerr are back with brand-new episodes all season long to bring you the best Nationals coverage filled with in-depth analysis and behind-the-scenes features for your listening pleasure. When we last left you, the Nationals had just been eliminated from a close matchup with the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Now we have an entire offseason's worth of...

District 34 podcast: NLDS Game 5 preview

District 34 podcast: NLDS Game 5 preview
It all comes down to this: Game 5 of the National League Division Series between the Nationals and Dodgers. The winner-take-all game doesn't start until 8 p.m. at Nats Park, so Byron Kerr and I have a preview episode of the District 34 podcast to get you ready for tonight's showdown. With a chance to advance to face the Cubs in the NLCS, the Nationals need just one more over the Dodgers after splitting the first four games of this series. So how did we get here? What have the Nationals done...

District 34 podcast: Injury updates heading into the postseason

District 34 podcast: Injury updates heading into the postseason
Playoff baseball is back in D.C.! The Nationals are back in the postseason after clinching their third National League East division title in five years last weekend, and will face the Dodgers in the National League Division Series. That series starts next Friday, but where it will begin remains to be seen. The Nationals hold a two-game lead over the Dodgers heading into today's series finale against the Diamondbacks at Nats Park. Their magic number to clinch home field advantage for the NLDS...

District 34 podcast: Stephen Strasburg suffers elbow injury in return from DL

District 34 podcast: Stephen Strasburg suffers elbow injury in return from DL
First of all, we have some breaking news: District 34 is now on iTunes! You can subscribe through the iTunes store to have immediate access to new episodes as soon as they're available! Thanks to all our listeners, and we hope you continue to follow us for all your latest Nationals news and talk. So please subscribe, rate and review District 34 on iTunes and spread the word! Now back to baseball ... Wednesday's series finale saw the return of Stephen Strasburg to the mound at Nats Park after...

District 34 podcast: Crossover episode with Yard Work

District 34 podcast: Crossover episode with Yard Work
The Beltway Series is a special time of the baseball season for the DMV area. No other area in all of sports has as unique a situation as we do with the Nationals and Orioles in terms of the history (or lack thereof) and the fan bases. So with a special series comes a special podcast as Byron Kerr and I welcome Brian Eller, co-host of the Yard Work podcast with MASNsports.com's Orioles writer Steve Melewski, to a crossover episode of District 34. To begin, we look back at the O's 4-3 win over...

District 34 podcast: What's going on with Bryce Harper?

District 34 podcast: What's going on with Bryce Harper?
It's the question that's on every Nationals fan's mind: What's up with Bryce Harper? Well, Byron Kerr and I don't have the exact answers, but we spend much of this week's episode of the District 34 podcast giving our take on Harper's slump and how he can get out of it. The Nationals are currently holding a 7 1/2-game lead in the National League East, with the Marlins and Mets losing in their afternoon games as I write on a Nats off-day. That's a comfortable lead, but it's no secret...

District 34 podcast: Nationals' youth movement and another Giants showdown

District 34 podcast: Nationals' youth movement and another Giants showdown
This week's episode of the District 34 podcast is full of good vibes. The Nationals are coming off a 6-3 road trip that included stops in Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona. While they split the series against the fellow division-leading Indians and Giants, they took care of business in Phoenix by sweeping the last-place Diamondbacks. The Nats finally had a successful West Coast swing, and it could not have come at a better time entering the dog days of August. They now stand 20 games above...

District 34 podcast: Trade deadline, Nats lineup and the Giants series

District 34 podcast: Trade deadline, Nats lineup and the Giants series
The Nationals are coming off a two-game interleague series with the Indians in Cleveland, a series they split but probably should have swept. Now they're out west to start an important four-game series with the National League West-leading Giants before popping down to Arizona. On top of that, the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline looms on Sunday. Needless to say, it's an exciting time for another episode of the District 34 podcast. But looking back as to why the Nationals didn't sweep the...

District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break

District 34 podcast: Looking back and ahead at All-Star break
We're back! After a short absence, Byron Kerr and I are back for another episode of the District 34 podcast! The Nationals ended the first half of the season hot, winning 11 of 15 games before the break, including six of seven against the division rival Mets. The Nats have given themselves a comfortable six-game lead in the National League East over the Mets and Marlins, but they still have a long way to go in the second-half stretch. Before the break, we heard some comments from manager Dusty...

District 34: About last night ...

District 34: About last night ...
So last night's end to the Nationals-Dodgers series was less than ideal ... Plain and simple: Michael A. Taylor had a bad night at Dodger Stadium (0-for-5, five strikeouts and a three-base error in the ninth inning). But those days happen, and he's not the only one to struggle over this five-game losing streak on the West Coast. Alas, the Nationals must press on ... Meanwhile, Byron Kerr and I get to look back at last night's crazy and unfortunate finish for this week's episode of District...