Nats enter final stretch

For the first time in a while, the preseason favorite Washington Nationals are back at .500.  Sitting at 65-65, the team has found a sense of urgency, and with only 32 games remaining is in dire need of a real playoff push.  Sitting eight games back with a rather favorable stretch of games to be played, the Nats need to quickly make up ground in the NL wild card race.

The team plays the bottom half of the NL East for much of the remaining season and needs to take advantage of the division’s cellar dwellers.  The Nats play the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and finally the Philadelphia Phillies all in a row, and must win most of the games if any playoff hopes remain.  Ross Ohlendorf will take the mound today against Marlins pitcher Nate Eovaldi in what will be a 7:05 first pitch in Florida.