By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (26-26) — who have lost 10 of their last 12 games against the Washington Nationals (32-21) at Citizens Bank Park and nine of their last 11 overall this season — will look to salvage the series finale Wednesday evening while in opposition of three-time All-Star and 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner RHP Max Scherzer.
Phillies southpaw Adam Morgan will take the mound for the seventh time of the season, one start removed from allowing a season-high three home runs — en route to a 6-2 defeat to the MLB-best Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Morgan has yet to face the Nationals through 21 career starts prior to Wednesday.
During their current skid, the Phillies have been outscored 48-28 by their opponents. Their offense had the sixth-worst batting average throughout all of baseball during the month of May (.234), while having the second-worst on-base percentage (.286) and slugging percentage (.351). Additionally, they produced the fewest runs scored (84) and runs-batted-in (77).
The Phillies have dropped five consecutive games and four series overall. They are at the .500 mark for the first time since starting the season 10-10 on April 26.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (32-21) | Philadelphia Phillies (26-26) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Max Scherzer | RHP | Adam Morgan | ||
| (5-4, 4.05 ERA) | (1-3, 6.67 ERA) | ||||
Max Scherzer — Age: 31;
- Last Start: May 27, 2016, vs. STL: L, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO, HR
- Career vs. PHI: (5-1), 8 G, 53.0 IP, 40 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 10 BB, 56 SO, 3 HR, 2.38 ERA
While Scherzer has allowed 10 home runs over his past five starts, he has struck out 51 batters in 35 1/3 innings, which includes his MLB record-tying, 20-strikeout performance against the Detroit Tigers on May 11.
In three career starts at Citizens Bank Park, the veteran right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 0.905 WHIP ratio, averaging just 1.33 runs allowed per outing.
Adam Morgan — Age: 26;
- Last Start: May 27, 2016, at CHC: L, 4.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, 3 SO, 3 HR
- Career vs. WSN: N/A
Morgan has struggled in three home starts this season since replacing the injured right-hander Charlie Morton (left hamstring) in the starting rotation on April 29 in his recall from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits and six walks in just 14 2/3 innings, yielding a 7.36 ERA and 1.568 WHIP ratio.
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (32-21) | Philadelphia Phillies (26-26) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Chris Heisey | R | 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 2 | RF | Jayson Werth | R | 2 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 3 | 2B | Daniel Murphy | L | 3 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 4 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R | 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 5 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R | 5 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 6 | C | Wilson Ramos | R | 6 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 7 | CF | Michael Taylor | R | 7 | LF | Tyler Goeddel | R |
| 8 | SS | Danny Espinosa | S | 8 | RF | David Lough | L |
| 9 | P | Max Scherzer | R | 9 | P | Adam Morgan | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has just seven hits — two singles, two doubles and three home runs — over his past 79 plate appearances and 73 at-bats. He posted a slash line of .101/.160/.261 spanning 19 starts and 23 games overall during the month of May.
- The Phillies are 6-13 when their starter lasts fewer than six innings. Morgan has lasted at least six innings in only one-third of his six starts this season.
- Shortstop Freddy Galvis had his eight-game hitting streak snapped in Tuesday evening's 5-1 defeat, going 0-4 with a strikeout. During his streak, the Venezuelan native hit .364/.382/.636 with four doubles and a triple, home run and run-batted-in each.
What's Next:
- Thursday, June 2, 2016: vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Chase Anderson (2-6, 5.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-7, 4.07 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
