Philadelphia @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2018 ) Philadelphia 7, Washington 8

Washington's Max Scherzer and Philadelphia's Aaron Nola aim to strengthen their respective Cy Young Award bids at the other's expense on Thursday afternoon as the Nationals vie for a three-game sweep of the visiting Phillies. Scherzer leads the National League in wins (16) as he attempts to claim his third straight NL Cy Young Award and fourth of his career.

Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run shot in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 8-7 victory for Washington (64-63), which has erupted for 18 runs and 28 hits in the series after trading away offensive sparkplugs Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams. Bryce Harper collected three hits and two runs scored to improve to 5-for-10 with two RBIs in the series heading into a showdown with Nola, against whom he is 9-for-23 with two homers and five RBIs in his career. While the Nationals have regained their footing, the Phillies (68-58) have dropped four in a row to reside three games behind first-place Atlanta in the National League East. Philadelphia's Maikel Franco belted a two-run shot on Wednesday to improve to 14-for-35 with three homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored this season against the Nationals, although he is just 3-for-23 in his career versus Scherzer.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (14-3, 2.24 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (16-5, 2.11)

Nola reached double-digit strikeouts for the fifth time this season on Friday, as he fanned 11 over seven innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets. The 25-year-old has allowed four runs and 18 hits while fanning 24 over his last four outings (27 innings). Nola improved to 3-4 in 12 career encounters versus Washington after winning both of his starts this season in late June, permitting a total of three runs on nine hits while striking out 13.

Scherzer tossed his second straight scoreless outing to improve to 6-0 in his last eight starts Friday after scattering five hits across six innings of an 8-2 victory versus Miami. The 34-year-old pitched well in his lone meeting with Philadelphia, yielding one run on five hits while striking out 15 in 6 1/3 frames of a no-decision on May 6. Scherzer fanned seven batters in a row at one stretch and had 12 consecutive outs via strikeout from the second to the sixth inning.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia RF Nick Williams is 10-for-28 with one homer, three RBIs and six runs scored in his last eight games.

2. Washington SS Trea Turner has four multi-hit performances in his last six contests.

3. The Phillies acquired LHP Luis Avilan (2-1, 3.86 ERA) from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday for minor-league RHP Felix Paulino.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Phillies 2