Philadelphia @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2018 ) Philadelphia 4, Washington 10

Washington Nationals owner Mark D. Lerner told fans in an open letter that management "gambled" on the team making a run for the postseason as its reasoning to stand pat at the trade deadline. The gamble didn't pay off in the eyes of Lerner, but the Nationals (63-63) showed some moxie in posting their third win in nine outings heading into Wednesday's tilt with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies (68-57).

"The time has come for us to make decisions that will bolster our roster for next season and beyond," Lerner said Tuesday afternoon after Washington traded offensive sparkplugs Daniel Murphy to the Chicago Cubs and Matt Adams to St. Louis. Hours later, the Nationals flexed their muscles as Andrew Stevenson and Wilmer Difo belted back-to-back homers and Ryan Zimmerman also went deep in a 10-4 rout of Philadelphia. The Phillies have lost eight of 12 overall and have been outscored 21-7 during their three-game losing skid to drop two games behind National League East-leading Atlanta. Carlos Santana had an RBI single during Philadelphia's four-run sixth inning and is 12-for-40 with four homers, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored against Washington this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.70 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 3.90)

Eflin will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make his 40th career start and 18th this season. The 24-year-old overcame a sluggish start on Thursday to limit the damage to four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 9-6 victory versus the New York Mets. Eflin won his lone career encounter against Washington on June 22 after yielding two runs on six hits in five innings of a 12-2 rout.

Strasburg is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday after being sidelined since July 20 with a pinched nerve in his neck. "Credit to Stras that he got himself ready to pitch for us, and got the opportunity to go up against a team we're trying to catch," manager Dave Martinez said of the 30-year-old. "He's been working diligently to get ready and he feels good." Strasburg has manhandled the Phillies throughout his career, posting a sparkling 10-2 mark with a 2.22 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 21 career encounters.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia LF Rhys Hoskins has 10 hits -- including three homers -- and nine runs scored in his last 10 games.

2. Washington traded Murphy for Class A INF Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named or cash considerations on Tuesday and Adams for cash considerations.

3. Nationals C Matt Wieters is 6-for-12 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Phillies 2