Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central

Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central
Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 17-11 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (.316 with 30 hits, 15 RBIs); CF Starling Marte (.288 with 3 HR, 8 SB); 1B Josh Bell (.241 with 26 hits, 16 RBIs); RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.91 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (2-1, 3.32 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 30: RHP Chad Kuhl (2-2) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 1: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2)vs. RHP Max Scherzer (5-1), 7:05...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Jamal Collier on road trip and homestand

"MASN All Access" podcast: Jamal Collier on road trip and homestand
The Nationals are back after their nine-game road trip and we're back at Nats Park! Paul and I are joined by Jamal Collier of MLB.com on a new episode of the "MASN All Access" podcast to recap the road trip and preview the 10-game homestand, which starts tonight against the Diamondbacks. Ending on a high note with a 15-run barrage in San Francisco, did the Nationals show signs of things to come out west? And what went wrong to lead the team to a 4-5 record this time out? Will this homestand...
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Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac

Ryan Sullivan: Promising prospects aplenty for Potomac
On Wednesday evening, I made the drive to Wilmington, Del., in order to get my first look at the 2018 Potomac Nationals. In spite of the drizzle and cold temperatures, I came away quite impressed with the collection of talent the Nationals have assembled at their high Single-A affiliate, not to mention the beginnings of a head cold. Right-hander Wil Crowe, Washington's second-round pick last summer and a top 10 prospect, started Wednesday's contest and pitched well despite the conditions,...
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Join Gio Gonzalez, Nats teammates for Uncork for a Cause on May 3

Join Gio Gonzalez, Nats teammates for Uncork for a Cause on May 3
If you've ever dreamed of sipping wine while discussing the intricacies of the curveball with Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez, mark Thursday, May 3 on your calendar and get out your checkbooks. That's the night Gonzalez will host his third annual Uncork for a Cause, when the pitcher, his teammates and special guests will gather from 6-9 p.m. at The Rooftop at F1RST Residences, a new rooftop entertainment space across from Nationals Park. The event will raise funds and awareness for The...
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Opposite dugout: Arms have positioned Diamondbacks atop NL West

Opposite dugout: Arms have positioned Diamondbacks atop NL West
Manager: Torey Lovullo (2nd season) Record: 17-7 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: LF David Peralta (.317 with 3 HR, 14 RBIs), CF A.J. Pollock (5 HR, 17 RBIs), 1B Paul Goldschmidt (4 HR, 11 RBIs), LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1,89 ERA), RHP Zack Godley (3-1, 3.09 ERA), RHP Brad Boxberger (3.00 ERA, 6 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 27: RHP Zack Godley (3-1) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-2), 7:05 p.m., MASN2 April 28: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0)...
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Liz Barr: Nationals fans need to calm down for a moment

Liz Barr: Nationals fans need to calm down for a moment
The Nationals, needless to say, are not having a stellar start. For Nationals fans, it's like the world is ending. Twitter has been a tire fire in recent weeks, and all of the bad takes I've seen are astounding. I've seen calls to pack it up and go home, they're done. Trade away all the players. Burn it to the ground and start all over again. Admittedly, the Nationals have been pretty bad to start off the year. They've gone 10-14, hitting .230 overall and .218 with runners in scoring...
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Marty Niland: Rickey's reports set the stage for historic summer in D.C.

Marty Niland: Rickey's reports set the stage for historic summer in D.C.
Former Senators outfielder Curt Flood "approach(ed) perfection" with St. Louis in 1963. That same year, former Washington slugger Harmon Killebrew was described as strikeout-prone and overpriced as a Minnesota Twin. Former Nationals manager Frank Robinson was "upset" by the changeup as a Cincinnati Red in the spring of 1964. Those are the professional opinions of Branch Rickey, whose more than 1,750 scouting reports and other baseball-related papers and correspondence have been digitized by...
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Ryan Sullivan: Struggling Cole needs a change of scenery

Ryan Sullivan: Struggling Cole needs a change of scenery
On Wednesday evening, the weary Nationals bullpen suffered a collapse and got smoked like a Willie Nelson cigarette, to the tune of nine runs in the eighth inning. The dagger came when A.J Cole, now pitching in relief after losing the fifth starter role to Jeremy Hellickson, served up a mammoth grand slam home run to Yoenis Céspedes. This elevated Cole's ERA this season to 13.06 and left many Nationals fans, myself included, wondering what the next step is for Cole's career in...
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Opposite dugout: Free agent acquisitions might not help Giants contend

Opposite dugout: Free agent acquisitions might not help Giants contend
Manager: Bruce Bochy (12th season) Record: 9-12 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Buster Posey, (.265, 8 RBIs), 1B Brandon Belt (10 RBIs, 5 HR), 3B Evan Longoria (7 doubles, 9 RBIs), RF Andrew McCutchen (11 RBIs), RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 0.00 ERA), RHP Hunter Strickland (2.00 ERA, 3 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (1-5 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 23: LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1) vs. RHP Chris Stratton (1-1), 10:15 p.m., MASN2April 24: RHP Tanner Roark (1-1) vs. LHP Ty...
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Opposite dugout: Dodgers ride winning streak into series vs. Nats

Opposite dugout: Dodgers ride winning streak into series vs. Nats
Manager: Dave Roberts (3rd season) Record: 8-9 Who to watch: 1B Cody Bellinger (.304/.342/.464), SS Corey Seager (7 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.352/.435/.611with 3 HR, 13 RBIs), LF Matt Kemp (.347/.389/.592, 10 RBI, 3 HR) , LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-2, 1.33 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (3-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 20: RHP Max Scherzer (3-1) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-2), 10:10 p.m., MASN2April 21: RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-1) vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0), 9:10 p.m.,...
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Liz Barr: Bench pieces coming through big for Nationals

Liz Barr: Bench pieces coming through big for Nationals
It's not that the Nationals have been burdened with major injuries. But they have been plagued by a couple of nagging minor injuries at once. Daniel Murphy, the big injury, is still recovering from offseason surgery. Adam Eaton, after coming back from a grisly ACL tear, tweaked his ankle and is on the disabled list. Anthony Rendon fouled a ball off his toe and has sat the last few games. Brian Goodwin just went on the DL for a wrist injury. None of these three injuries will likely keep players...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Breaking down Nats' comeback win over Mets

"MASN All Access" podcast: Breaking down Nats' comeback win over Mets
"Fire Davey Martinez. It's because they brought camels to spring training." "This is just like 2013 and 2015. They're not that good." "Blow it up! Trade everyone! The season's over!" I'm so sure. Can we all relax now? Can we take our fingers off the panic button for the time being? Paul and I certainly are for this "MASN All Access" podcast after the Nationals completed an 8-6 comeback win over the Mets at Citi Field on Monday night. Just how big was this win? We hear what Martinez...
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Marty Niland: Recalling Washington's struggles with baseball integration

Marty Niland: Recalling Washington's struggles with baseball integration
It was great to be at the Nationals Park on Jackie Robinson Day. Even if the crowd was sparse in the cool, wet weather, it was heartwarming to see all of the players wearing No. 42 in honor of the man who broke baseball's color barrier. Reflecting on the legacy of Robinson and those who followed him, it's appropriate to look back at the Washington's history of civil rights and baseball as examples of how far sport and society have come, and to see how far we still have to go. Washington was...
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Opposite Dugout: Mets' hot start continues despite shortage of catchers

Opposite Dugout: Mets' hot start continues despite shortage of catchers
Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 12-2 Last 10 games: 9-1 Who to watch: 1B Adrián González (.242, 9 RBIs), SS Asdrúbal Cabrera (.315, 3 HR, 5 RBIs), LF Yoenis Céspedes (3 HR, 12 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (2-0, 3.06 ERA), RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 1.29 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (0.00 ERA, 7 saves)Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0 Pitching probables: April 16: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-0) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (2-0), 7:10 p.m., MASNApril 17: LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-1) vs. RHP Zack...
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Ryan Sullivan: Zimmerman deserves criticism for Nats' early struggles

Ryan Sullivan: Zimmerman deserves criticism for Nats' early struggles
In a rather quiet spring training for the Nationals, one of the biggest storylines for the team in West Palm Beach was the unique decision by Ryan Zimmerman to play only in one spring training game. Zimmerman instead preferred to get his work accomplished on the back fields, in games consisting of predominantly minor leaguers. Certainly, the fans that traveled to watch the team were disappointed to miss seeing the face of the franchise, but also were questioning the wisdom of this...
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"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound

"MASN All Access" podcast: Byron Kerr on Nats' rebound
The Nationals are back on track and Byron Kerr of MASNsports.com is back on your airwaves! The Nationals were able to take two of three from the Braves to rebound from getting swept at home by the Mets. Byron, formally of the late "District 34" podcast, joins Paul and I to discuss how the Nats turned things around this week with stellar outings from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. We first touch on Byron's recent story on Matt Adams' value to his new team after the left-handed backup...
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Opposite Dugout: Up-and-down Rockies awaiting word on brawl-related discipline

Opposite Dugout: Up-and-down Rockies awaiting word on brawl-related discipline
Manager: Bud Black (3rd year) Record: 6-7 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Charlie Blackmon (4 HR, 6 RBIs), 3B Nolan Arenado (.311 with 1 HR, 6 RBIs), SS Trevor Story (3 HR, 6 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.308 with 2 HR, 4 RBIs), RF Carlos González (2 HR, 6 RBIs), RHP Chad Bettis (1-0, 2.53 ERA), RHP Wade Davis (3.38 ERA, 5 saves) ​ Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 12: RHP Chad Bettis (1-0) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-0) 7:05 p.m., MASN...
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Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop

Liz Barr: Severino deserves to be Nats' backup backstop
There were question marks in the air during spring training over who the Nationals' backup catcher would be. The team answered that question by sending Pedro Severino to Triple-A and choosing Miguel Montero to back up Matt Wieters on opening day. However, the Nationals caught the injury bug, Wieters went on the DL, and Severino was quickly recalled. Not only that, but Montero eventually went on paternity leave, and throughout that time, Severino was the primary starter. And, boy, has he...
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Marty Niland: It didn't take long for inaugural Nats to win fans' hearts

Marty Niland: It didn't take long for inaugural Nats to win fans' hearts
I will always love the Nationals, but I'm still waiting for something that will make me fall in love with this year's team - something momentous to convince me that this year's edition of the Nats is capable of doing great things. In 2005, their first year in Washington, it took just two games for a star to emerge and prove this team was doing more than just taking up residence, but was capable of winning our hearts. Washington was hungry for baseball after going without since Senators owner...
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Opposite dugout: Braves making some noise in early stages of 2018

Opposite dugout: Braves making some noise in early stages of 2018
Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season) Record: 6-3 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.367/.558/.733 with 11 RBIs), LF Preston Tucker (.370/.400/.667 with 9 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (2 SB, 5 RBIs), SS Dansby Swanson (.382/.400/.618), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (15 Ks in 10 1/3 innings), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (1.93 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: April 9: RHP Julio Teheran (0-0, 10.13 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 1.64 ERA), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 10: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-0,...
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