Kyle Kendrick Mans The Mound As Phillies Look To Take Four-Game Set From Nats

The Phillies are currently 4-2 on this home stand – two from Atlanta and two from Washington. With last night's loss the Phillies fell back to 44-47 and remained 7 1/2 games out of first in the NL East. Cliff Lee was suprisingly hittable last night, allowing four solo home runs (two sets of back-to-backs) while taking his third loss of the season. The Phillies' offense was quiet, producing just a Darin Ruf home run. With the All-Star break right around the corner, the Phillies will look to end this home stand on a better note than .500. Tonight Kyle Kendrick (7-6, 3.90 ERA) will take on Jordan Zimmermann (12-3, 2.57 ERA) in the series finale in an effort to take three out of four from the second-place Nationals. 

Kyle Kendrick has fallen off in his last two starts, allowing 10 earned runs on 22 hits in that stretch. His last time around, Kendrick allowed a career-high 12 hits against the Braves, surrendering six runs in five innings. With a 1-2 record and a 5.68 ERA under his belt in his last three starts, Kendrick needs to keep the ball down and needs to be able to get ahead in the count. Kendrick has faced Washington twice this season, most recently pitching 7 2/3 innings of one-run, two-hit ball back on June 19th. In his career against Washington, Kendrick owns a 4-6 record with a 4.63 ERA.

Jordan Zimmermann is having a career year in 2013, but his last time around he failed to continue his dominance on the mound. On Saturday against the Padres, Zimmermann threw 101 pitches in just 5 1/3 innings of work, allowing three earned on five hits. Zimmermann struck out four en route to a no-decision. The right-hander Zimmermann will be seeking a career-best 13th win tonight as he takes on the Phillies for the second time this year. Back on May 24th, Zimmermann held the Phils in check, surrendering just two runs through seven innings. In his career against the Phillies, Zimmermann owns a 2-4 record along with a 4.62 ERA.

Game Notes:

• Ryan Zimmerman is 11-for-37 with seven doubles and a home run for a .568 slugging percentage against Kyle Kendrick.
  
• In his last 30 games, Ben Revere is hitting .402 (45-for-112) with 17 runs scored, five doubles, two triples and 10 RBI.
• The Phillies are 28-24 in games against teams with winning records, but they've gone just 17-23 against clubs at or below the .500 mark. Oh, the irony.

Phillies lineup:

1. Ben Revere CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Domonic Brown LF
5. Michael Young 3B
6. Delmon Young RF
7. Darin Ruf 1B
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Kyle Kendrick P

Nationals lineup:

1. Denard Span CF
2. Ian Desmond SS
3. Bryce Harper LF
4. Ryan Zimmerman 3B
5. Jayson Werth RF
6. Adam La Roche 1B
7. Anthony Rendon 
8. Kurt Suzuki C
9. Jordan Zimmermann P

First Pitch Forecast: Scattered T-Storms – 81° – 60% PoP

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT.

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.