Philadelphia @ Washington Preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2012 ) Washington 7, Philadelphia 3

The Washington Nationals can clinch the National League East with a victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. The Nationals have a three-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves with three games to play and the next Washington victory or Atlanta loss will sew up the division crown. The Nationals are also tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the NL’s top record. Philadelphia needs to win two of three for its 10th straight winning season.

Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper clubbed his 22nd homer of the season in Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Harper is two behind the record for most homers in a season by a teenager, held by Tony Conigliaro of the 1964 Boston Red Sox. Philadelphia had won 92 or more games in each of the previous four seasons before this year’s disappointing campaign. Injuries that sidelined first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley led to a slow start and then an in-season injury to ace pitcher Roy Halladay furthered Philadelphia’s issues.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (10-12, 4.08 ERA) vs. Nationals LH John Lannan (4-0, 4.23)

Kendrick lasted just two innings and gave up five runs on three homers against the Nationals on Wednesday. Harper and Kurt Suzuki hit two-run blasts and Ian Desmond hit a solo shot. Kendrick had allowed two or fewer runs in seven of eight starts before the poor outing. He is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA against Washington this season and 3-5 with a 5.06 ERA in 18 career appearances (16 starts) against the Nationals.

Lannan received the victory while opposing Kendrick and allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He is 2-0 with a no-decision in three September starts since replacing Stephen Strasburg in the rotation. Lannan hasn’t allowed a homer in five big-league starts this season. He is 3-12 with a 5.64 ERA in 19 career starts against the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies C Carlos Ruiz had three hits in Sunday’s victory over the Miami Marlins to raise his average to .330. Ruiz’s previous best average was .302 in 2010.

2. Desmond is batting .450 with five extra-base hits – including two homers – in 20 career at-bats against Kendrick.

3. Utley is batting .342 with two homers in 38 career at-bats against Lannan.