Second Half Player to Watch

Despite being in first place at the All Star Break, it's no secret that the Washington Nationals underachieved in the season's first half. Max Scherzer has lived up to expectations, Bryce Harper has exceeded them. But shortstop Ian Desmond had an awful first half, while Jayson Werth, another player manager Matt Williams planned to lean on, played just 27 games and contributed little.
Now rehabbing from his latest wrist injury, Werth could be a week away (or less) from returning to the Nats. If there's one player who needs to have an impact if Washington wants to pull away from the 2nd place Mets, it's Werth, He put up big numbers as a Phillie, as well as 2013 and '14 with the Nationals. But he needs to be a difference maker if the club lives up what many of us predicted back in March.

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