Homestand kicks off with All-Star balloting

The Nationals return home after a six-game road trip out west. Things started out well, as the Nats took two of three in San Diego, but a sweep by the Dodgers has Washington looking to rebound upon its return to Nationals Park. One thing a homestand also ensures is another set of perks and incentives for fans to get out to the ballpark and root root root for the home team and it kicks off with the annual All-Star voting beginning Tuesday when the Nationals open a series with the Diamondbacks. From now until June 19, balloting stations will be set up all over Nationals Park, allowing fans to submit their votes for the 83rd annual All-Star game to be held in Kansas City. Be sure to vote often and give Nationals players a chance to sample some famous Kansas City barbeque and show off their stuff against the best the American League has to offer. The game takes place July 10 and, as it has in recent history, will determine which league takes home field advantage in the World Series. If you can't make it to the ballpark to vote, online voting can be done here through June 28, so get clicking! The Nationals on the ballot are first baseman Adam LaRoche, second baseman Danny Espinosa, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, shortstop Ian Desmond, catcher Wilson Ramos, and outfielders Michael Morse, Rick Ankiel and Jayson Werth. Wednesday brings my personal favorite incentive in the form of $1 hot dog night while the series finale will see the first 20,000 fans receive a Nationals drawstring backpack, perfect for hoarding those dollar hot dogs. For the weekend, the Nationals will present Our Park, a pledge for Nationals fans to flood the ballpark and keep as many Phillies fans as possible up north for the three-game series. Fun stuff for fans during this weekend include an opportunity for kids to run the bases on Saturday and a Washington D.C. Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, where the six newest members of the District's Sports Hall of Fame will be honored prior to the Nationals' series finale against the Phillies.