The Nats opened the 2nd half much with a 7-2 loss to the Padres after Kyle Finnegan made a mess of a tied game. Mark & Al recap the closer falling apart in the top of the 9th while other teams keep a close eye on the right hander ahead of the Trade Deadline. Finnegan only recorded one out while giving up a grand slam to Manny Machado and his ERA is now up to 4.37.

(14:30) C.J. Abrams 2-run homer tied the game in the bottom of the 8th, but the Nats ran themselves out of a chance to the take lead. Josh Bell was picked off while curiously taking off for 2nd base with James Wood standing on 3rd.

(19:30) Wood struck out three times and has the 3rd most Ks in all of Baseball.

(23:00) Michael Soroka had a decent outing as he lasted five innings. Is he someone that can be dealt at the Deadline?

(25:30) Brad Lord has been moved back into the starting rotation as Shinnosuke Ogasawara is remaining in AAA. Why Is Cade Cavalli still in Rochester and not in the Washington rotation?

(32:45) Analysis of the team's draft approach. Eli Willits will be introduced on Saturday afternoon shortly after he is expected to sign.

The Nats drafted Eli Willits, a high school shortstop out of Oklahoma, with the number #1 overall pick in Sunday night's MLB Draft. Mark & Al react to the selection that surprised most prognosticators. Ethan Holliday, the other highly touted high schooler from Oklahoma, was picked by Colorado at #4 overall.

(08:30) Willits is just 17 years old and has stated that he would like to be in the Big Leagues by when he turns 20. Willits had an eye opening OPS of 1.514 this past high school season.

(15:15) Handicapping the SS depth within the organization. Last year Washington drafted Seaver King, a shortstop from Wake Forest, who currently is playing with AA-Harrisburg.

(22:00) The Nationals were swept in Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon hours before the MLB Draft began. The 8-1 loss sends the team 20 games under .500 into the All-Star Break. For comparison sake, the organization was just two games below .500 entering June.

(27:45) C.J. Abrams was a late scratch due to shoulder soreness. This was significant because his injury info was released mid-game; a strong departure from protocol under Mike Rizzo. James Wood was given is first gever ame off on Sunday as he prepares for Monday night's HR Derby in Atlanta.

(36:00) Jackson Rutledge struggled by allowing four Brewer runs while recording just one out. The 2019 1st Round pick's ERA has a reached a scary 6.92 as the team decides what to do with the righty.

The Nats let it slip it away on Saturday afternoon in their 6-5 walk-off loss in Milwaukee. Al begins with a quick preview of Sunday night's MLB Draft where the Nationals hold the #1 overall pick. Kade Anderson, pitcher from LSU, is the likeliest selection in the top spot.

(04:00) Kyle Finnegan inherited a 5-3 lead, but very quickly allowed three Brewers runs. The final blow came on a Caleb Durbin single after Andrew Vaughn's 2-run double tied up the affair.

(07:00) Shinnosuke Ogasawara only lasted four innings and shortly after taping was optioned to AAA-Rochester.

(10:10) Finnegan's blown save ruined the intial storyline that belonged to Brady House. The rookie hit his first two career MLB homers and the 2nd one gave Washington a 4-3 lead in the top of the 8th.

(13:15) MASN reports that James Wood & MacKenzie Gore will fly to Atlanta on a team provided private jet for the All-Star festivities. This recalls a brief controversy involving Juan Soto a few years back.