Nationals Face Phillies in Three-Game Series Starting Tonight

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Washington Nationals visit the Philadelphia Phillies tonight to kick off a three-game series, with the first pitch set for 6:45 p.m. Eastern. This matchup will feature an opening day rematch on the mound between Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore and Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler.

Gore, who enters with a 2-3 record and a 3.34 ERA, was stellar on opening day, allowing just one hit and no runs over six innings. He struck out a career-high 13 batters in that game. Gore’s performance has been somewhat inconsistent since then. He has alternated between wins and losses this season, with his last start resulting in a loss despite striking out eight batters in six innings.

Wheeler, sporting a 2-1 record and a 3.62 ERA, was equally impressive on opening day, limiting the Nationals to two hits and one earned run while striking out eight. His performance has improved in his recent outings, giving up only four runs in 13 innings across his last two starts and striking out 22 batters.

The Nationals will be looking to bounce back from a tough 19-5 loss to the New York Mets where they surrendered 16 runs in the final four innings. This disappointing defeat followed a successful series where Washington won two of three games against the Mets.

Washington catcher Riley Adams expressed confidence despite the challenges, stating, “We believe in each other and our group. We just have that confidence.” Manager Dave Martinez echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s resilience.

The Nationals also have right-hander Jake Irvin, who will pitch on Wednesday, set to face a yet-to-be-determined Phillies starter. Irvin has a 2-0 record with a 3.19 ERA entering the game against the Phillies.

Additionally, Nationals right-hander Brad Lord is expected to make his fifth start of the season on Thursday against another TBD Phillies pitcher. Lord, who has struggled this season, took a loss in his last outing against the Mets.

As the series unfolds, both teams aim to gain momentum, with the Phillies also looking to build off their recent improvement. They ended a five-game losing streak with victories against the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.