Philadelphia @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 6, 2013 ) Washington 3, Philadelphia 6
The Washington Nationals return home after a rough West Coast road trip hoping the familiarity of Nationals Park will help them turn things around when they start a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Washington went 4-6 on its trip but snapped a four-game skid with a 2-1 win at San Francisco on Wednesday. The Phillies claimed the final two contests of their three-game set at Miami and are looking to match a season high with their third straight victory.
The Phillies will have to deal with one of the league's hottest pitchers in the series opener, but they have fared well against Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann, who turned 27 on Thursday, is 1-4 with a 5.06 ERA in six starts against Philadelphia. The Nationals will try to get their struggling offense going against Philadelphia right-hander Kyle Kendrick. Washington has scored two runs or fewer in eight of its last 12 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, MASN HD (Washington), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (4-2, 2.82 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (7-2, 1.62)
Kendrick has been outstanding, but he took a slight step back last time out. The 28-year-old allowed four runs over six innings in a loss to Cincinnati to snap a streak of seven straight quality starts. Kendrick has faced mixed results against the Nationals, going 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 19 games (17 starts).
Zimmermann had a four-start winning streak snapped his last time out, but he still threw an eight-inning complete game in a 2-1 loss at San Diego. He was prepared to go back out for the ninth if the Nationals tied the contest. Zimmermann has notched five straight starts in which he went at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer runs.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Phillies placed 2B Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a mild oblique strain. Utley sat out Tuesday and Wednesday after feeling something in his side during batting practice.
2. Washington's top hitters have fared well against Kendrick. 3B Ryan Zimmerman is 10-for-33 with a homer, SS Ian Desmond is 10-for-23 with two homers and RF Bryce Harper is 6-for-12 with a homer.
3. Phillies LF Delmon Young has homered in consecutive games. Young's personal-best streak came last season, when he homered in four straight contests from July 5-8.
PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Phillies 1