Washington Nationals: The west coast and Quaker State beckons

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May 4 – May 6: Philadelphia Phillies

The last series before heading back west will be against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies sit at 10-7, good for third place in the N.L. East. Despite the number of young players on their roster, the team is playing good baseball.

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One of those young players is the team’s best hitter, Rhys Hoskins. Despite playing in only 50 games last season, he made a name for himself by posting a .259/.396/.618 slash line. He is only getting better this season, improving his batting average by 68 points and his OBP by 90 points. In addition, his walk rate (21.4%) is nearly as high as his strikeout rate (22.9%).

The Phillies also made a splash in free agency, signing former Cubs ace Jake Arrieta to a three-year deal. In only two starts with the club, his impact has been felt. His groundball percentage of 67.6% is elite, helping him to support a 3.38 ERA.

The player to keep an eye on during this series is rookie Scott Kingery. This 23-year-old showed impressive power in the minors, combining for 26 HR’s last season between AA and AAA. He already has two this season along with 12 runs batted in and three stolen bases. His combination of power and speed is a rarity for a player hitting out of the six spot in the lineup.

Next: Howie Kendrick's Contributions

Much like Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor, Kingery can wreak havoc on the basepaths, either by stealing bases or trotting around them. Keeping him between home plate and the third base dugout must be a priority for the Nats pitching staff.

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