By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
For the first time since April 2001, the last two Cy Young Award winners — Max Scherzer and Jake Arrieta — will face off as the Philadelphia Phillies (18-14) and Washington Nationals (17-17) battle in the series rubber match Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
The Phillies evened the series on Saturday with a 3-1 win behind Vince Velasquez, who allowed just one run, one hit and four walks spanning five innings at 92 pitches. A first-inning, two-run home run by Rhys Hoskins was all the Phillies needed to pull just a game out of first place in the division behind the Atlanta Braves. Hector Neris recorded his sixth save.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (18-14) | Washington Nationals (17-17) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jake Arrieta | RHP | Max Scherzer | ||
| (3-1, 3.49 ERA) | (6-1, 1.79 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32
- Career vs. WSN: 1-2, 5.48 ERA, 9 G, 9 GS, 46 IP, 52 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 3 HR, 25 BB, 48 SO, 1.674 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 1-1, 3.13 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 23 IP, 22 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 HR, 10 BB, 26 SO, 1.391 WHIP
Arrieta's 1.82 season ERA quickly rose to 3.49, after yielding five doubles and six runs in just 3 2/3 innings in his most recent start on April 30, away against the Miami Marlins. Arrieta has allowed just one home run, which occurred in his Phillies and season debut also against the Marlins on April 8.
RHP Max Scherzer, Age: 33
- Career vs. PHI: 9-1, 2.58 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 94 1/3 IP, 71 H, 27 R, 27 ER, 6 HR, 19 BB, 108 SO, 0.954 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 22-14, 2.99 ERA, 49 G, 49 GS, 331 1/3 IP, 234 H, 117 R, 110 ER, 38 HR, 72 BB, 420 SO, 0.924 WHIP
Scherzer leads the majors in wins (6), complete games (1), shutouts (1) and strikeouts (65), and also leads the National League in FIP (2.02) and strikeouts per nine innings (12.9).
The 11-year veteran was voted National League Pitcher of the Month for April, the fourth such honor of his career.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (18-14) | Washington Nationals (17-17) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | SS | Trea Turner | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 4 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 4 | 1B | Matt Adams | L |
| 5 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 5 | C | Matt Wieters | S |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | LF | Andrew Stevenson | L |
| 7 | SS | Pedro Florimon | S | 7 | CF | Michael A. Taylor | R |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | P | Max Scherzer | R |
| 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R | 9 | 2B | Wilmer Difo | S |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies look for their first road series win against the Nationals since April 26-28, 2016.
- Cesar Hernandez is riding a five-game hit streak, slashing .273/.333/.500 with three runs, six hits, a solo home run and two walks.
- Carlos Santana and Maikel Franco — who each homered in the series opener — are a combined 5-63 (.079) lifetime against Scherzer. Meanwhile, Odubel Herrera — who has reached base safely in 34 straight games — is 10-33 lifetime against the right-hander with a double, home run, two RBI and six walks.
Arrieta and Scherzer have opposed each other twice before, with Scherzer winning both meetings (6/27/17, 6-1 Nats over Cubs; 6/17/13, 5-1 Tigers over Orioles). #Phillies #Nationals
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) May 6, 2018
What's Next:
- Monday, May 7, 2018: vs. San Francisco Giants, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 5.27 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
