It’s the opening 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 open up a four-game weekend set against the Washington Nationals with the first game of a split doubleheader Friday afternoon. Philadelphia closed a three-game series on the road with the Cubs at Wrigley Field hoping to avoid a sweep. The Phillies were beaten 4-1 in the middle game of the set Wednesday night. Washington avoided a sweep at the hands of the Braves at home as they prevailed 3-2 in 10 innings Wednesday night. In the season series between the teams, the Phillies own a commanding 13-2 advantage, including a three-game sweep at home in the most recent series September 9-11.
Philadelphia entered Thursday afternoon’s contest losers of four straight games and saw their wild card hopes dented in the process. The Phillies entered Thursday third in the NL East, 14 games behind the Mets for the division lead. They held a narrow half-game lead on the Brewers for the final wild card spot in the National League playoff picture. On Wednesday night, Philadelphia got three hits each from Rhys Hoskins and Nick Castellanos while Jean Segura had a pair. The Phillies went just two for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base in the game. Aaron Nola (10-13) took the loss as he allowed four runs on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
Bailey Falter is projected to get the call for this one as he makes his 19th appearance and 15th start of the season for the Phillies. He comes in 5-4 with a 4.21 ERA, a 1.234 W HIP, 15 walks and 68 strikeouts over 77 innings of work on the year. Falter took the loss in his last start, which came against the Braves at home Saturday. He threw 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits with no walks and six strikeouts in a game the Phillies lost 6-3. In his last three starts, Falter is 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, two walks and 13 strikeouts over 14.1 innings of work. Falter makes his sixth appearance and third start against the Nationals in this contest. He is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.297 WHIP, two walks and 13 strikeouts over 12.1 innings of work. Falter is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA, a 1.091 WHIP, one walk and six strikeouts over 7.1 innings in three career appearances, one start, at Nationals Park.