Jul 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) celebrates with Ian Desmond (20) after beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1 at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve finally reached the midpoint of the season. The All-Star Game has come and gone, and the second half is slated to get underway tomorrow night.
For the Washington Nationals, the break couldn’t have come at a better time. While they’ve still managed to claw and fight their way to nine games over .500, their lead over the New York Mets for control of the subpar NL East is just a measly two games. They’ve run the gamut from cold to hot and back to cold again, while suffering more than their fair share of injuries. The time off for the Midsummer Classic was needed, if for nothing else than to get some of their injured players some rest.
So, with the first half now in the books, what should Nationals fans expect for the second half of the season?
There are a few obvious answers, the first of which is improved health. The Nationals have been one of the teams hardest hit by the injury bug this year, with Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Denard Span, and Ryan Zimmerman all missing extensive playing time. The continued excellence of Max Scherzer, who has been worth every penny in the first year of his $210 million contract, also seems highly probable.
But what else should Nationals fans expect? What sorts of surprises are lurking in the second half of the season? While there’s no telling what lies ahead in the world of sports, District on Deck has some bold predictions for what the future has in store for the Nats.
Next: Prediction One: Nifty Fifty