By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Looking to build off their 4-2 series opener win, the Philadelphia Phillies (18-13) will send RHP Jake Arrieta to the mound opposite southpaw Patrick Corbin and the Washington Nationals (13-18) Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies 2008 World Series champion and legendary shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, will officially retire as a member of the club before the game.
If you will be attending Coca-Cola Jimmy Rollins Retirement Night tomorrow, be sure to arrive early!
You won't want to miss the pregame festivities. pic.twitter.com/c0rCSEFJMt
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 3, 2019
In Friday's opener, the Phillies began a stretch of 23 games over 24 days on a positive note, as Jean Segura and Rhys Hoskins respectively hit a solo and three-run home run, supplying all the Phillies' four runs on offense. Phillies pitching combined to allow just a pair of runs on six hits and three walks, while punching out 12 batters. Seranthony Dominguez improved to 3-0, while Hector Neris notched his fifth save in as many opportunities in the ninth.
Here's what part of the visit looked like.
Picture courtesy of an undercover reporter. pic.twitter.com/9ECxMo4tpi
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) November 27, 2018
Corbin will make his first start at Citizens Bank Park since visiting the venue this past November as a free agent. Then, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki wrote, "the Phillies want Corbin because he is arguably the best free-agent pitcher available and they want to balance out their rotation, which has had only three starts from a left-hander since the end of the 2016 season." With known offers from at least the Phillies, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals on the table, Corbin opted to play down in the nation's capital on a six-year, $140 million pact.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (13-18) | Philadelphia Phillies (18-13) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Patrick Corbin | RHP | Jake Arrieta | ||
| (2-1, 3.58 ERA) | (4-2, 3.46 ERA) | ||||
LHP Patrick Corbin, Age: 29
- Career vs. PHI: 3-2, 3.41 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 31 2/3 IP, 28 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 27 SO, 1.074 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 1-1, 7.94 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 1/3 IP, 12 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 9 SO, 1.324 WHIP
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 33
- Career vs. WSN: 1-2, 5.26 ERA, 13 G, 13 GS, 65 IP, 65 H, 42 R, 38 ER, 7 HR, 34 BB, 62 SO, 1.523 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 9-4, 3.30 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 122 2/3 IP, 103 H, 55 R, 45 ER, 14 HR, 44 BB, 106 SO, 1.198 WHIP
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (13-18) | Philadelphia Phillies (18-13) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Adam Eaton | L | 1 | CF | Andrew McCutchen | R |
| 2 | 2B | Brian Dozier | R | 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R |
| 3 | 3B | Howie Kendrick | R | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | 1B | Matt Adams | L | 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | C | Yan Gomes | R | 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 6 | SS | Carter Kieboom | R | 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 7 | LF | Andrew Stevenson | L | 7 | 2B | Sean Rodriguez | R |
| 8 | CF | Michael A. Taylor | R | 8 | LF | Phil Gosselin | R |
| 9 | P | Patrick Corbin | L | 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays (21-11, American League East) for having the largest division lead in MLB, 2 1/2 games.
- The Phillies currently have the fifth-best World Series odds, according to Sports Insights, trailing only the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
- Hoskins has a six-game hitting streak, slashing .421/.542/1.000 with three runs scored, eight hits, three home runs, eight RBI, four walks and five strikeouts spanning 19 at-bats. So far, Hoskins has the sixth-most RBI (28) in MLB, the fourth-most in the National League, and the most in the National League East.
- Right fielder Bryce Harper, through 10 career at-bats opposite Corbin, is slashing .400/.455/.600 with a pair of singles and doubles, as well as one RBI, one walk and four strikeouts (click to expand).
What's Next:
- Sunday, May 5, 2019: vs. Washington Nationals, 2:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-4, 5.91 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (3-3, 3.34 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
