Washington @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2013 ) Washington 5, Philadelphia 1
The Washington Nationals benefited from an impressive power display to prevent the Philadelphia Phillies from reaching the .500 mark. The Nationals will look to ride that momentum and salvage a split of the four-game series on Thursday, when the National League East rivals reconvene at Citizens Bank Park. Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos belted back-to-back homers in the fifth inning before Ryan Zimmerman and former Phillie Jayson Werth followed suit in the sixth to pace Washington to a 5-1 triumph on Wednesday.
The victory moved the Nationals within five games of division-leading Atlanta - and 2 1/2 ahead of the Phillies. Darin Ruf's two-out homer in the seventh was all the offense mustered by Philadelphia, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end. The Phillies will face a stern test against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who will look to match Detroit's Max Scherzer with a major league-best 13th victory.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (12-3, 2.57 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (7-6, 3.90)
Zimmermann settled for a no-decision after yielding three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings against San Diego on Saturday. The 27-year-old improved to 2-4 lifetime versus Philadelphia after permitting two runs over seven strong frames in a 5-2 triumph on May 24. Zimmermann, who has not lost since May 29, is just 3-3 on the road this season.
Kendrick handcuffed Washington on June 19, allowing just one run on two hits in 7 2/3 innings, but settled for a no-decision. The 28-year-old won his following outing before being lit up in his next two - including a six-run, 12-hit performance versus the Braves on Saturday. Kendrick is 4-6 with a 4.63 ERA against the Nationals in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel told MLB Network Radio that closer Jonathan Papelbon experiences occasional soreness in his hip. Manuel quickly added that "it's definitely not serious."
2. Werth is riding a seven-game hitting streak but is just 2-for-17 versus Kendrick.
3. Phillies 2B Chase Utley has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. Utley is 2-for-4 with a double in his career against Zimmermann.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Phillies 2