By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philadelphia Phillies (29-33) — having lost five consecutive games to the division-leading Washington Nationals (38-24) — will start southpaw Adam Morgan as they look to salvage the series finale Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
The Phillies hope to avoid being swept by the Nationals for the second time this season and for the fourth time overall. The Dusty Baker-led squad took all three games against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park from May 30-June 1, outscoring and outhitting them 16-6 and 25-16, respectively.
Morgan has dropped five consecutive decisions and eight of his last nine dating back to Sept. 4 of last season. Nationals right-hander Joe Ross, on the other hand, is undefeated in two career starts against the Phillies — both of which occurred at Citizens Bank Park this season (April 15 and May 31) — posting a 0.61 ERA and 0.682 WHIP over 14 2/3 innings.
Entering Sunday, the Phillies sit nine games out of first place in the National League East division and five out of the second spot in the National League Wild Card.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (29-33) | Washington Nationals (38-24) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Adam Morgan | RHP | Joe Ross | ||
| (1-5, 6.70 ERA) | (5-4, 2.92 ERA) | ||||
Adam Morgan — Age: 26;
- Last Start: June 6, 2016, vs. CHC: L, 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO, HR
- Career vs. WSN: (0-1), 1 G, 6.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 2 HR, 9.00 ERA
Joe Ross — Age: 23;
- Last Start: June 7, 2016, at CHW: ND, 4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, HR
- Career vs. PHI: (2-0), 2 G, 14.2 IP, 6 H, R, ER, 4 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR, 0.61 ERA
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (29-33) | Washington Nationals (38-24) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 1 | CF | Michael Taylor | R |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | LF | Jayson Werth | R |
| 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 3 | 2B | Daniel Murphy | L |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R |
| 5 | RF | Jimmy Paredes | S | 5 | C | Wilson Ramos | R |
| 6 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 6 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 7 | LF | Cody Asche | L | 7 | RF | Chris Heisey | R |
| 8 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 8 | SS | Danny Espinosa | S |
| 9 | P | Adam Morgan | L | 9 | P | Joe Ross | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are 39-40 all-time at Nationals Park. Their .494 win percentage at the 9-year-old venue is at its 15th-lowest mark all-time.
- Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph has reached base safely in eight consecutive games, batting .429/.448/.893 with a double, walk, four home runs, six runs scored and seven runs-batted-in over 29 plate appearances.
- Active members of the Phillies are batting .075/.159/.125 lifetime against Ross with just two singles and one extra-base hit over 45 plate appearances. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos is batting 1.000/1.000/2.000 in three career plate appearances against Morgan with a three-run home run and four runs-batted-in.
Standings:
(entering June 12, 2016)
What's Next:
- Monday, June 13, 2016: at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m.
- Rogers Centre
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (3-8, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP R.A. Dickey (4-6, 4.15 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
