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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Liz Barr: Finding the positives during a rough stretch for Nationals

Liz Barr: Finding the positives during a rough stretch for Nationals
The last month or so of Nationals baseball has been a little bit rough. It's been tough for the team and tough for fans, and at times it's been hard to watch. They keep finding new ways to lose, and it seems like there are never enough runs scored, they can't get that big hit and there are always runners left on base. It's frustrating. But we can't wallow in misery. If we only talk about failures and what the team isn't doing right, we're going to drive ourselves crazy. Yeah, things...
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Marty Niland: Celebrating baseball's evolution and sense of community

Marty Niland: Celebrating baseball's evolution and sense of community
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden's baseball roots aren't in Washington, but she knows the sense of pride that baseball fans in the nation's capital feel toward their team and national pastime. "They represent the capital, and the team in the capital, and this is the all-American game," she said, previewing the Library of Congress' new exhibit, "Baseball Americana," which opened Friday amid the buildup to the 89th All-Star Game on July 17 at Nationals Park. Washington baseball fans can...
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Opposite dugout: Red Sox visit D.C. looking to stay atop AL East

Opposite dugout: Red Sox visit D.C. looking to stay atop AL East
Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 56-29 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.339 with 20 HR, 41 RBIs); DH J.D. Martinez (.324 with 25 HR, 100 hits); 3B Rafael Devers (78 hits, 47 RBIs); LF Andrew Benintendi (.284 with 20 2B, 53 RBIs); LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 4.11 ERA); RHP Rick Porcello (9-3, 3.60 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.16 ERA, 24 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 2: RHP Rick Porcello (9-3) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...
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Ryan Sullivan: Saying farewell to Jayson Werth

Ryan Sullivan: Saying farewell to Jayson Werth
Earlier this week, Jayson Werth publicly acknowledged his baseball career is over, failing to specifically use the word retirement, but effectively ending his playing days. After the Nationals decided not to offer him a contract, Werth signed a minor league pact with Seattle in March to attempt to earn his way back to the majors. Unfortunately, nagging injuries and mediocre statistical performance was baseball's way of telling him his playing days were finished. Werth had a fascinating career,...
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Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to build momentum against struggling Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to build momentum against struggling Nationals
Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 42-36 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF Rhys Hoskins (43 RBIs), CF Odúbel Herrera (.298, 13 HR, 45 RBIs), 1B Carlos Santana (46 RBIs), 2B César Hernández (.264, 12 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (38 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (9-2, 2.58 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3 Pitching probables: June 28: RHP Tanner Roark (3-8) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (9-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 29 RHP Erick Fedde (0-3) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6), 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 30: RHP...
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Liz Barr: Soto working his way into Rookie of the Year conversation

Liz Barr: Soto working his way into Rookie of the Year conversation
Juan Soto has taken the Nationals by storm. We all know this. The Childish Bambino has provided the Nationals with a spark, and at times he's the only thing keeping this streaky train running. But he hasn't just taken the Nationals by storm, he's taken the entire league by storm, in a way no teenager has in a long time. There isn't an elite crop of rookies in the National League this season. There isn't a unanimous favorite like Cody Bellinger. So I say that it's within reason that Juan...
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Continue to #VoteNats as Harper slips to third, Turner stays in fifth

Continue to #VoteNats as Harper slips to third, Turner stays in fifth
The penultimate National League All-Star balloting update has been released and the Nationals now just have two players ranked in their respective positions: Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. Harper has been going through a highly documented and publicized slump over the last month-plus, but he's made some positive strides over the last week, slashing .300/.423/.600 with six hits (all doubles), three RBIs and five walks over his last six games. He also made headlines over the last few days when he...
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Marty Niland: Ex-Senators catcher Moe Berg's story comes to life on screen

Marty Niland: Ex-Senators catcher Moe Berg's story comes to life on screen
Moe Berg is known as a man who possibly changed history, although the former Washington Senators catcher is best remembered for decidedly non-baseball skills. Anyone who has visited the International Spy Museum has likely seen Berg's photo and read his story, and some who have been inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., may have seen his baseball cards on display. Now his exploits as a secret agent who helped the Allies win World War II have been brought to life in a film that's in limited...
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Opposite dugout: Rays throwing starters, not "openers," at Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rays throwing starters, not "openers," at Nationals
Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 37-40 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 3B Matt Duffy (.318 with 23 RBIs), C Wilson Ramos (.289 with 9 HR, 36 RBIs), 2B Joey Wendel (.262), 1B C.J. Cron (16 HR, 38 RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 25: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-4) vs. LHP Blake Snell (9-4), 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 26 RHP Max Scherzer (10-3) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-3), 12:10 p.m., MASN Inside the Rays: The...
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Ryan Sullivan: Carter Kieboom's breakout season is being noticed

Ryan Sullivan: Carter Kieboom's breakout season is being noticed
We are witnessing an outstanding season from a Nationals prospect unable to legally buy beer. If you immediately think this is yet another article about Juan Soto, I promise you it is not. Although he might deserve it, the 19-year-old Soto started the year at Single-A Hagerstown and is now batting cleanup in the major league. Yet somehow overlooked in the Soto tsunami, the Nationals have another prospect breaking out in their system in Carter Kieboom. Washington's first-round pick in 2016 out...
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Opposite Dugout: Phillies ready to see a whole lot of Nationals

Opposite Dugout: Phillies ready to see a whole lot of Nationals
Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 39-33 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: CF Odúbel Herrera (.299, 12 HR, 41 RBIs), LF Rhys Hoskins (41 RBIs), 1B Carlos Santana (41 RBIs), 2B César Hernández (.262, 10 SB), 3B Maikel Franco (36 RBIs), RHP Zach Eflin (4-2, 3.43 ERA), RHP Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.55 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 22: RHP Tanner Roark (3-7) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (4-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 23: RHP Erick Fedde (0-2) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (8-2),...
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Liz Barr: Taylor has earned his way back into Nats lineup

Liz Barr: Taylor has earned his way back into Nats lineup
Michael A. Taylor has been absolutely on fire of late. The man who was once under the Mendoza line has raised his batting average almost forty points in just over two weeks. It's phenomenal what Taylor has been able to do this month. At the beginning of June, Taylor was hitting just .204 and struggling mightily in just about every aspect offensively. But since the calendar turned, Taylor has become a new hitter. This month, in 14 games (nine starts), Taylor has hit a sizzling .429, scored...
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#VoteNats to send your favorite Nationals to All-Star Game in D.C.

#VoteNats to send your favorite Nationals to All-Star Game in D.C.
We're a month away from the All-Star Game coming to D.C., which means we're getting closer to the announcements of the National League and American League rosters. And the Nationals need your help to ensure the host city is well-represented in the All-Star Game! After leading all NL outfielders in voting last week, Bryce Harper has slipped to second with 1,002,696 votes behind Braves outfielder Nick Markakis' 1,173,653. Harper, a five-time All-Star, currently leads the league with 19 home...
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