Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2018 ) Washington 2, Philadelphia 3

The Washington Nationals appeared to be breaking out of their offensive funk with a strong performance on Friday, but another lackluster effort followed a night later. The Nationals will try to push across some runs and earn a split of their four-game series when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies for the finale on Sunday.

Washington totaled three runs in three straight losses before exploding with seven home runs in a 17-7 rout on Friday. That heat wave did not last into the weekend, however, as the Nationals went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position while stranding eight baserunners in Saturday's 3-2 setback to fall five games behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East. Stuck between Washington and Atlanta are the Phillies, who have captured three of four and won on Saturday despite losing starter Vince Velasquez after two innings when he was hit by a comebacker. Philadelphia will try to get some innings out of Jake Arrieta on Sunday as he opposes Gio Gonzalez.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.68 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54)

Gonzalez should be happy to begin a new month after going 0-3 with an 8.44 ERA in five starts during June. The Floridian lasted just one inning at Tampa Bay on Monday as he was rocked for six runs on three hits and five walks in a game Washington went on to lose 11-0. Gonzalez was much stronger against Philadelphia at home on May 4, when he yielded two hits and two walks in five scoreless frames to register the win.

Arrieta was nearly as bad in June as he went 0-4 with a 6.66 ERA over five starts. The TCU product allowed at least one home run in each of those five starts and served up a pair of blasts while surrendering six runs - three earned - on nine hits and a walk in five innings against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Arrieta got the start at Washington on May 4 and did not factor in the decision despite allowing one run and two hits in six frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals optioned LHP Sammy Solis to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.

2. Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera went 1-for-4 with a home run on Saturday, snapping his five-game hitless streak.

3. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon has gone 5-for-10 with two homers, four RBIs and four runs scored over his last two games.

PREDICTION: Phillies 6, Nationals 4