It’s the final game of a weekend set that has had its schedule rearranged between NL East foes in the nation’s capital. The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road as they finish off a four-game weekend set against the Washington Nationals Sunday afternoon. In the opening game of the series Friday afternoon, the Phillies snapped their losing skid as they picked up a 5-1 victory. There was supposed to be a doubleheader Friday but the nightcap was rained out, setting up Saturday to be a doubleheader day. This article was published prior to the conclusion of either game of Saturday’s slated pair at Nationals Park.
Philadelphia snapped a five-game skid as they took the opening game of this series Friday afternoon before rains washed out the nightcap. The Phillies entered Saturday afternoon third in the NL East, 13.5 games behind the Mets and Braves for the top spot in the division. They held the final wild card spot in the National League playoff picture by a half-game over the Brewers. In Friday’s game, the Phillies got two hits each from Brandon Marsh (run), Jean Segura (run, RBI), Bryson Stott (run), J.T. Realmuto (RBI) and Rhys Hoskins (run, two RBI) in the victory. Hoskins hit his 30th homer of the season in the win for Philadelphia. Bailey Falter (6-4) earned the win on the mound as he threw six scoreless frames, allowing three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
Zack Wheeler is on the mound for the Phillies as he makes his 26th start of the season in this contest. He com es in 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA, a 1.061 WHIP, 34 walks and 156 strikeouts over 148 innings of work on the year. Wheeler didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Tuesday on the road against the Cubs. He threw six frames, allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in an eventual 2-1 Phillies defeat. In his last three starts, Wheeler is 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, five walks and 14 strikeouts over 15.1 innings of work. Wheeler makes his 28th career start against the Nationals in this contest. He comes in 9-14 with a 4.44 ERA, a 1.389 WHIP, 61 walks and 137 strikeouts over 162 innings of work against them. Wheeler is 6-4 with a 4.21 ERA, a 1.429 WHIP, 28 walks and 66 strikeouts over 77 innings in 14 career starts at Nationals Park.