Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2016 ) Philadelphia 3, Washington 0

The Washington Nationals will be out for revenge when they kick off a nine-game road trip at the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. Washington opened the season with 14 victories in its first 18 games before absorbing a three-game sweep at home by the Phillies in which it scored a total of three runs and was shut out twice.

Jayson Werth had a pinch-hit grand slam while Wilson Ramos also homered and had four RBIs as the Nationals salvaged a four-game split against St. Louis with a 10-2 romp Sunday. Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper and Ramos each had run-scoring singles in the fourth inning as Washington snapped a 54-inning drought without an RBI hit with a runner in scoring position. Punchless Philadelphia hopes to get untracked in the opener of a 10-game homestand after getting swept by the Chicago Cubs to fall to 1-5 in its last six. The Phillies were outscored 17-5 by the Cubs and have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last nine games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), CSN Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (3-4, 2.71 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.97)

Roark was a hard-luck loser last time against the New York Mets despite permitting two runs over seven innings -- the sixth time this season he's yielded one earned run or fewer. Although Roark has a rocky history against the Phillies, owning a 2-5 record and 5.55 ERA in eight appearances (six starts), he blanked them on two hits over seven innings in a no-decision on April 28. Slumping Ryan Howard is 4-for-12 with a homer and six RBIs versus Roark.

Hellickson's bid to win a third consecutive start came up short despite a strong outing at Detroit in which he allowed three runs over seven innings. Hellickson won his previous two starts by permitting a total of four runs and nine hits in 13 innings. He tossed seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball to pick up his first win in four starts against the Nationals on April 27 but was shelled by Washington for six runs in three innings 12 days earlier.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon went 6-for-10 in the series versus St. Louis and has multiple hits in seven of his last 11 games.

2. Phillies 1B Howard, mired in a 6-for-66 slump, could wind up platooning with Tommy Joseph, who homered in Sunday's loss.

3. Nationals RHP Jonathan Papelbon has allowed two runs on five hits in two appearances versus Philadelphia this year, including a blown save on April 17.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Phillies 2