2016 Nats media season predictions

ATLANTA - The day has arrived. At long last, it is officially baseball season. The Nationals and Braves will be taking the field later this afternoon for Game 1 of 162 (or possibly more).

Which means it's time to make some official 2016 predictions. Many of you may remember this from previous years on previous websites, but for the uninitiated: My colleagues who cover the Nationals on a daily basis are kind enough to submit their predictions for a whole bunch of team-related questions. We almost inevitably end up looking like fools, but that's all part of the fun.

As you'll see below, there were a few questions in which we had near unanimity. And there were some questions that produced a really wide range of responses. For any of you daring enough to put your good reputation on the line, please feel free to make your predictions in the comments below, then bookmark this page for handy reference throughout the season.

Enjoy!

WHICH NATIONALS WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE ALL-STAR GAME?
Jamal Collier (MLB.com) - Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Todd Dybas (Washington Times) - Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg
Craig Heist (106.7 FM) - Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Chase Hughes (CSNmidatlantic.com) - Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Chelsea Janes (Washington Post) - Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Bill Ladson (MLB.com) - Bryce Harper, Ben Revere, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Pete Kerzel (MASNsports.com) - Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer
Eddie Matz (ESPN.com) - Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
James Wagner (Washington Post) - Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg
Mark Zuckerman (MASNsports.com) - Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Max Scherzer

WHAT WILL TOTAL HOME ATTENDANCE BE?
Eddie Matz - 2,714,688
Todd Dybas - 2,702,429
Jamal Collier - 2,700,000
Chelsea Janes - 2,700,000
Bill Ladson - 2,700,000
Craig Heist - 2,635,412
Pete Kerzel - 2,626,262
Chase Hughes - 2,640,000
James Wagner - 2,580,000
Mark Zuckerman - 2,537,984

HOW MANY HOMERS WILL BRYCE HARPER HIT?
Bill Ladson - 50
Jamal Collier - 45
Pete Kerzel - 41
Craig Heist - 40
Mark Zuckerman - 40
Eddie Matz - 39
Todd Dybas - 38
Chelsea Janes - 38
Chase Hughes - 37
James Wagner - 35

WHO WILL LEAD THE PITCHING STAFF IN WINS? HOW MANY?
Todd Dybas - Stephen Strasburg, 21
Bill Ladson - Max Scherzer, 20
Pete Kerzel - Stephen Strasburg, 19
Eddie Matz - Max Scherzer, 19
Mark Zuckerman - Max Scherzer, 19
Craig Heist - Stephen Strasburg, 18
Chelsea Janes - Stephen Strasburg, 18
Chase Hughes - Max Scherzer, 17
James Wagner - Max Scherzer, 17
Jamal Collier - Stephen Strasburg, 17

WHO WILL LEAD THE PITCHING STAFF IN STRIKEOUTS? HOW MANY?
Eddie Matz - Max Scherzer, 282
Bill Ladson - Max Scherzer, 280
Pete Kerzel - Max Scherzer, 266
Chase Hughes - Max Scherzer, 265
Chelsea Janes - Stephen Strasburg, 262
Mark Zuckerman - Stephen Strasburg, 262
Craig Heist - Max Scherzer, 258
Jamal Collier - Stephen Strasburg, 257
Todd Dybas - Stephen Stasburg, 236
James Wagner - Max Scherzer, 225

WHO WILL BE THE SIXTH PITCHER TO START A GAME?
Todd Dybas - Yusmeiro Petit
Chelsea Janes - Yusmeiro Petit
Pete Kerzel - Yusmeiro Petit
Eddie Matz - Yusmeiro Petit
Craig Heist - Lucas Giolito
Chase Hughes - Lucas Giolito
Bill Ladson - Lucas Giolito
Jamal Collier - A.J. Cole
James Wagner - A.J. Cole
Mark Zuckerman - A.J. Cole

WHO WILL BAT SECOND IN THE LINEUP THE MOST TIMES?
Jamal Collier - Anthony Rendon
Todd Dybas - Anthony Rendon
Craig Heist - Anthony Rendon
Chase Hughes - Anthony Rendon
Chelsea Janes - Anthony Rendon
Pete Kerzel - Anthony Rendon
Bill Ladson - Anthony Rendon
Eddie Matz - Anthony Rendon
James Wagner - Anthony Rendon
Mark Zuckerman - Anthony Rendon

HOW MANY GAMES WILL RYAN ZIMMERMAN PLAY?
Craig Heist - 140
Chelsea Janes - 135
Mark Zuckerman - 135
Pete Kerzel - 131
Chase Hughes - 130
Bill Ladson - 130
Eddie Matz - 128
Jamal Collier - 120
James Wagner - 120
Todd Dybas - 108

WHAT WILL JAYSON WERTH'S BATTING AVERAGE BE?
Bill Ladson - .290
Chase Hughes - .285
Pete Kerzel - .281
Todd Dybas - .278
Mark Zuckerman - .278
James Wagner - .270
Eddie Matz - .268
Jamal Collier - .260
Craig Heist - .255
Chelsea Janes - .248

HOW MANY PLATE APPEARANCES WILL MICHAEL A. TAYLOR GET?
Jamal Collier - 520
Todd Dybas - 482
James Wagner - 475
Bill Ladson - 450
Chelsea Janes - 438
Mark Zuckerman - 408
Chase Hughes - 400
Pete Kerzel - 399
Eddie Matz - 359
Craig Heist - 328

HOW MANY GAMES WILL TREA TURNER START FOR THE NATIONALS?
Chase Hughes - 125
Bill Ladson - 120
Pete Kerzel - 77
Mark Zuckerman - 62
Jamal Collier - 60
James Wagner - 50
Craig Heist - 30
Chelsea Janes - 16
Eddie Matz - 16
Todd Dybas - 8

WHEN WILL LUCAS GIOLITO MAKE HIS MLB DEBUT?
Chase Hughes - April 24 vs. Twins
Bill Ladson - May 10 vs. Tigers
Craig Heist - May 13 vs. Marlins
Jamal Collier - June 11 vs. Phillies
James Wagner - June 15 vs. Cubs
Mark Zuckerman - July 1 vs. Reds
Pete Kerzel - August 6 vs. Giants
Eddie Matz - August 13 vs. Braves
Chelsea Janes - August 25 vs. Orioles
Todd Dybas - September 14 vs. Mets

HOW MANY SAVES WILL JONATHAN PAPELBON RECORD? HOW MANY BLOWN SAVES?
Mark Zuckerman - 38, 4
Eddie Matz - 36, 5
Todd Dybas - 36, 6
Bill Ladson - 35, 5
Pete Kerzel - 35, 6
Jamal Collier - 32, 5
Chelsea Janes - 32, 5
Chase Hughes - 32, 6
James Wagner - 30, 6
Craig Heist - 29, 7

HOW MANY GAMES WILL THE NATIONALS WIN?
Bill Ladson - 100
Mark Zuckerman - 93
Craig Heist - 92
Chase Hughes - 92
Pete Kerzel - 92
Eddie Matz - 92
Jamal Collier - 91
Todd Dybas - 91
Chelsea Janes - 91
James Wagner - 91

HOW WILL THE NATIONALS' SEASON END?
Bill Ladson - Win World Series
Todd Dybas - Lose NLCS
Chase Hughes - Lose NLCS
Pete Kerzel - Lose NLCS
Eddie Matz - Lose NLCS
Craig Heist - Lose NLDS
Chelsea Janes - Lose NLDS
James Wagner - Lose NLDS
Mark Zuckerman - Lose NLDS
Jamal Collier - Lose NL Wild Card Game