Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2013 ) Washington 2, Philadelphia 4

The Washington Nationals looked like they were turning things around over the weekend but have not had much success at the beginning of their seven-game road trip. The Philadelphia Phillies will try to hand the Nationals a third straight loss when they host the division rivals again on Wednesday. Washington has totaled four runs in dropping the first two games of the series.

The Nationals had won four straight and were getting healthy with Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos back in the lineup before running into the Phillies' pitching staff. Now it’s Philadelphia that looks primed to make a move in the National League East with a 6-2 record in July. The Phillies are a game under .500 and 1 1/2 games behind Washington for second place in the East.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (10-2, 2.73)

Gonzalez has earned the win in his last three starts and has not lost since May 27. The left-hander has posted seven straight quality starts, including a turn at Philadelphia on June 19 when he struck out a season-high 11 and allowed two runs on two hits in seven innings. Gonzalez has fared well against the Phillies in his career, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in five starts.

Lee has not lost since May 1 but had a string of 11 straight quality broken up last time out, when he allowed four runs on eight hits in a win over Atlanta. He lasted 6 1/3 innings in that start, marking the first time since May 1 that the veteran left-hander failed to complete at least seven innings. Lee allowed two runs in eight innings to earn a win over Washington on June 18 and owns a 6-3 record with a 2.48 ERA in nine career starts against the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals LF Scott Hairston made his first start for the team on Tuesday and could find his way into the lineup again against the left-handed Lee.

2. Philadelphia CF Ben Revere is 5-for-9 with three runs scored in the series.

3. Washington SS Ian Desmond is 1-for-11 in his last three games as he tries to garner support for the final spot on the NL All-Star team.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Phillies 2