When the Philadelphia Phillies opened their current 10-game homestand last Friday, they were marked as "sellers" with the trade deadline rounding into view at month's end. Following impressive series victories against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves, however, Ruben Amaro Jr. and company have maintained a "buyer's" mindset.
Tonight, the Phillies (45-46) will attempt to win their third consecutive series. They will be opposed by the stumbling Washington Nationals (46-44), who have dropped two straight to the Phillies after sweeping the San Diego Padres in three straight last weekend.
This one could be a heavyweight battle between starting pitchers.
Getting the call for the Phillies is the ace of this 2013 staff, Cliff Lee (10-2, 2.73 ERA). In spite of the numbers, the lefty is coming off of a solid start against the Atlanta Braves. Lee logged six strong innings before the wheels came loose in the seventh, giving him a final line of 6.1 innings pitched, eight hits, four earned runs, four strikeouts, and zero walks.
The Nationals will send an ace of their own to the mound. Opposing Lee is Gio Gonzalez (6-3, 3.14 ERA), who finished in third place in last season's National League Cy Young voting. His last outing was yet another quality start. Gonzalez lasted 6.2 innings against the Padres, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking just one batter.
Game Notes
- Scott Hairston, acquired by the Nationals in large part thanks to his success against left-handed pitching, will not start tonight against Cliff Lee, despite going 2-for-5 against Cole Hamels yesterday. Bryce Harper gets the start in left field.
- Denard Span returns to the Nationals lineup, leading off and playing center field, despite a .154/.222/.176 line against left-handed pitchers this season.
- Both Lee (6-3, 2.48 ERA vs. WSH) and Gonzalez (3-1, 2.53 ERA vs. PHI) have had success against the opposition in their careers.
Phillies Lineup
- Ben Revere – CF
- Jimmy Rollins – SS
- Chase Utley – 2B
- Domonic Brown – LF
- Michael Young – 3B
- Delmon Young – RF
- Darin Ruf – 1B
- Carlos Ruiz – C
- Cliff Lee – P
Cliff Lee will start tonight's game.
Nationals Lineup
- Denard Span – CF
- Ian Desmond – SS
- Bryce Harper – LF
- Ryan Zimmerman – 3B
- Jayson Werth – RF
- Adam LaRoche – 1B
- Anthony Rendon – 2B
- Wilson Ramos – C
- Gio Gonzalez – P
Gio Gonzalez will start tonight's game.
TV: CSN
Radio: 1210 WPHT / 94 WIP / WTTM 1680
