Healthy Seasons Needed

Both players pictured today -- Ivan Nova, pitching to Manny Machado in September 2013 -- need to return to health for their teams to have solid post-season chances. Likely to return sometime around Memorial Day, Nova underwent Tommy John surgery last spring, while Machado's last two seasons were stopped short by knee injuries.
Nova at 28 and Machado, still just 22, should have long careers ahead of them. Both are the kind of homegrown talent clubs thrive for -- as long as they can stay on the field.

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