Philadelphia @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Philadelphia 2, Washington 4

The Washington Nationals look to sew up the top postseason seed in the National League when they close the regular season against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Washington is tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the NL’s top record but the Nationals hold the tiebreaker edge due to winning the season series. The Nationals clinched the NL East on Monday, while Philadelphia needs a victory for its 10th consecutive winning campaign.

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is making quite an impression during his first stint in the majors. Ruf hit two homers in Philadelphia’s loss on Tuesday and is batting .355 with three homers and nine RBIs in 11 games. Ruf led the entire minors with 38 homers this season. Washington first baseman Adam LaRoche reached the 100-RBI mark on Tuesday with his 33rd homer. He joins third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and former Nationals slugger Adam Dunn – twice each – as the only players to reach 100 RBIs since the franchise relocated to Washington.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cliff Lee (6-8, 3.12 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (9-11, 4.13)

Lee has pitched well over his last eight outings in what has been a disappointing campaign for one of the highest-paid pitchers in the game. He was just 2-7 before beating the Nationals on Aug. 26 to start a four-game winning streak. Lee has struck out 26 against one walk in 23 innings over his last three outings. He is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA against Washington in two starts this season and 5-2 with a 2.28 ERA in seven career outings against the Nationals.

Jackson slipped to 0-4 in his career against the Phillies when he lost on Aug. 24, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings. He was roughed up in his last start when he gave up nine runs (eight earned) in just 1 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jackson had a 7.92 ERA in five September starts. He is 0-3 with a 4.34 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard has fanned in five of his seven at-bats against Jackson.

2. Nationals 2B Danny Espinosa is 7-for-16 with three homers against Lee.

3. Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins (calf) missed the first two games of the series and won’t play in the finale.