Philadelphia @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2013 ) Philadelphia 5, Washington 4
The Washington Nationals will try to start a new winning streak Sunday when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of a three-game series. Washington's season-high seven-game winning streak was snapped in a 5-4 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. The setback pushed the Nationals 5 1/2 games behind Cincinnati in the race for the second wild card in the National League with just 14 games to play.
Even with Saturday's setback, Washington is 24-10 since Aug. 9 and gives the ball to NL wins leader Jordan Zimmermann. Philadelphia is 16-12 since Ryne Sandberg took over as interim manager, including wins in six of its last eight games. The Phillies turn to Tyler Cloyd in the finale.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, PHL17 (Philadelphia), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Tyler Cloyd (2-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (17-8, 3.36)
Cloyd is coming off a dismal outing against San Diego on Tuesday. In his first start in the majors in three weeks, he gave up seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings. Cloyd was reached for six runs in five frames in his lone appearance against Washington near the end of the 2012 season.
Zimmermann has won his first two starts this month, including a 3-2 triumph at Philadelphia on Sept. 4. He yielded two runs in seven innings of that contest, improving to 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts versus the Phillies this year. Zimmermann has let up just one home run and four walks in 27 1/3 innings over his last four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington CF Denard Span is riding a career-best 25-game hitting streak.
2. Nationals SS Ian Desmond needs one stolen base to reach the 20-homer, 20-steal mark for the second straight season.
3. Philadelphia opens its final homestand of the season Monday against Miami. Washington hosts Atlanta.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Phillies 3