The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies will take the field on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. ET.
Washington (49-63 SU and 63-49 RL) is starting right-hander Josiah Gray. The 25-year-old is 7-9 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 22 outings this season.
Philadelphia (61-51 SU and 46-66 RL) is countering with righty Zack Wheeler. The 33-year-old is 8-5 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 22 starts.
The Phillies are -270 moneyline favorites and the game total is 8.5 runs scored.
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Washington is red-hot, winning four straight and six of its last eight games. The Nationals may not be playoff-bound, but they're capable spoilers. Will they close out their 2023 campaign on a high note?
Washington averages 4.35 runs (19th) and hits .259 (6th) with a .719 OPS (18th). The Nats have launched 99 home run balls (29th) and stolen 82 bases (14th) in 2023. The pitching staff has posted a 4.86 ERA (26th) and a 1.46 WHIP (28th) with 34 quality starts (22nd).
CJ + LANE. BACK-TO-BACK. FIRST TWO PITCHES.
~EXTENDED CUT~ pic.twitter.com/dqPz95o6KI
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 6, 2023
Gray will take the hill for the visitors in game two of the four-game series. The young right-hander surrendered five runs in 3.2 innings last start vs. Milwaukee. He was much better in his previous two outings, holding San Francisco to one run in seven frames and New York (N.L.) scoreless in six frames. Gray last faced Philadelphia on June 30, picking up the win (one run with eight strikeouts in six innings). He is 2-2 with a 4.95 ERA and 37 strikeouts in seven career starts (36.1 IP) vs. the Phillies.