Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2018 ) Washington 5, Philadelphia 3

The Philadelphia Phillies quickly are losing ground in the National League East due in no small part to their recent lack of success against the Washington Nationals. The Phillies attempt to put an end to their recent struggles Tuesday, when they host the middle contest of their three-game series versus the division-rival Nationals.

Philadelphia owned a 1 1/2-game lead over Atlanta as recently as Aug. 7 after opening the month by winning five of its first six contests, but it has gone just 6-12 since and finds itself trailing the Braves by 3 1/2 games following Monday's series-opening 5-3 loss. Rhys Hoskins has been one bright spot of late with homers in back-to-back contests for the Phillies, who also fell 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot in the NL. Washington sits eight games back in the East but has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the Phillies recently, winning three of four meetings between the teams over the last week. Philadelphia's lone victory in the four contests came when Aaron Nola outdueled fellow Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer - a matchup that will take place again on Tuesday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.13 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (15-3, 2.13)

Scherzer issued a season-high four walks and suffered a hard-luck loss against Philadelphia on Thursday after yielding two runs while striking out 10 over seven innings. The outing marked the first time in three turns the three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed a run and ended a six-game winning streak during which he posted a 2.00 ERA. Odubel Herrera (13-for-39, one homer) is one of the few Phillies to enjoy much success versus Scherzer, who is 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA in six career starts at Citizens Bank Park.

Nola earned his third victory in as many starts Thursday after permitting five hits and a walk while registering nine strikeouts in eight scoreless innings at Washington. The LSU product is 9-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 12 home outings this season and has been particularly dominant since June 23, going 7-1 with a 1.59 ERA over his 11 turns. Bryce Harper (9-for-27, two home runs) has fared well against Nola, who is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three 2018 starts versus the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies 1B Carlos Santana's next home run will give him 20 for the season, which would mark only the 10th time in club history four players reached the plateau in a season.

2. Washington C Matt Wieters has collected three homers and 11 RBIs in 68 at-bats this month. Entering August, he had recorded three blasts and 10 RBIs over his first 111 at-bats.

3. Philadelphia OF Roman Quinn is batting .452 in 10 games since Aug. 16.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Nationals 1