By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Less than a week away from his 25th birthday, RHP Zach Eflin will make his 2019 debut opposite three-time Cy Young Award winner RHP Max Scherzer, as the Philadelphia Phillies (3-0) and Washington Nationals (1-2) open a brief, two-game set Tuesday evening at Nationals Park.
Going against Scherzer for the first time will be Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper, who returns to Nationals Park — fresh off his recent 13-year commitment to don red pinstripes, as well as his Monday announcement that he and his wife, Kayla, are expecting their first child. Tuesday morning, Harper shared his thanks and appreciation to the Nationals organization and its fans on Instagram, concluding with: "When I run on the field tonight I am sure to hear some boos, but I will always remember the cheers and the screams that are still with me right now, as I start my new chapter. So for that, DC, THANK YOU."
In seven seasons as a National, Harper earned six All-Star nods, as well as a MVP, Silver Slugger and Rookie of the Year award each. On Tuesday, he will make his 460th career start at Nationals Park, a venue that — since his debut in 2012 — he has slashed .284/.394/.518 with 95 doubles, three triples, 92 home runs, 275 RBI, 302 walks and 398 strikeouts spanning 1,994 plate appearances. While not publicly stating whether there will be a "formal in-stadium tribute," according to the MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Nationals are reportedly planning "some form of acknowledgement."
RELATED | Phillies Exceeded All Expectations During Season-Opening Series Sweep of Braves
While the Phillies were strong on seemingly all facets in sweeping the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals were nearly swept themselves in their season-opening series — for the first time since 2009 — had they not salvaged the finale against the New York Mets on Sunday, 6-5. Since March 28 in the National League, the Phillies rank first in walk rate (17.9 percent), second in slugging percentage (.562), third in on-base percentage (.384), fourth in RBI (23), fifth in home runs (8), and sixth in runs scored (6). All these rankings come while being tied with three other NL clubs for playing the fewest games, 3. Three NL teams have played 4 games, while eight have already played 5.
⚾️ Phillies 8 HRs are most through first 3 games in team history
⚾️ 23 runs is 2nd most through first 3 games for Phils in 30 years
⚾️ 20 walks. Just 3rd time in Phils history they’ve had that many walks in first 3 games
⚾️ 130,476 fans in first 3 home games is most in 7 years pic.twitter.com/NBnSdkJJ5O
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 1, 2019
The Phillies have batted in 24 innings this season and have produced a combined 23 runs, 21 hits, 20 walks, nine singles and eight home runs; first baseman Rhys Hoskins accounts for five of those runs, followed by left fielder Andrew McCutchen (4). The Phillies are off to just their second 3-0 start since 2001; also, they are MLB's only remaining undefeated club, and the National League's only remaining club to have yet to commit an error.
A Phillies win tonight would be their third 4-0 start in franchise history, and their first since 1915 — a year in which they went to the World Series.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (3-0) | Washington Nationals (1-2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Zach Eflin | RHP | Max Scherzer | ||
| (2018: 11-8, 4.36 ERA) | (2019: 0-1, 2.35 ERA) | ||||
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24
- Career vs. WSN: 1-1, 5.93 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 13 2/3 IP, 24 H, 12 R, 9 ER, HR, 5 BB, 12 SO, 2.122 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 1-0, 6.48 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 8 1/3 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 7 SO, 2.280 WHIP
Eflin will make his fourth career start against the Nationals. Although he sports a 5.93 ERA and 2.122 WHIP in his career opposite the Phillies' division rival, those numbers were inflated by the presence of now-Phillie Harper — slashing .556/.556/.778 over nine career plate appearances against the right-hander, with three singles, two doubles, one RBI and one walk. Harper (5) was among just three batters Eflin had allowed five or more hits to in his career, the others being Kris Bryant (6) and Amed Rosario (5).
RHP Max Scherzer, Age: 34
- Career vs. PHI: 9-2, 2.64 ERA, 17 G, 17 GS, 112 2/3 IP, 82 H, 33 R, 33 ER, 9 HR, 25 BB, 138 SO, 0.950 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 29-18, 2.90 ERA, 66 G, 66 GS, 449 1/3 IP, 317 H, 152 R, 145 ER, 52 HR, 101 BB, 588 SO, 0.930 WHIP
Scherzer recently told The Athletic that Harper is signed with the Phillies "forever, basically … or at least forever in my career." "We're going to be facing each other a lot. This is just the first," he said. "Whatever happens on Tuesday, it's going to be the course of a career of facing him. This is just round one."
The right-hander will aim for his 30th career win at Nationals Park, as well as his 10th career win against the Phillies in the first of the two-game set.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (3-0) | Washington Nationals (1-2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R | 1 | RF | Adam Eaton | L |
| 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R | 2 | SS | Trea Turner | R |
| 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | LF | Juan Soto | L |
| 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 5 | 1B | Matt Adams | L |
| 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 6 | C | Yan Gomes | R |
| 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 7 | 2B | Brian Dozier | R |
| 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | P | Max Scherzer | R |
| 9 | P | Zach Eflin | R | 9 | CF | Victor Robles | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP+
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- "There are 10 buses filled with Phillies fans traveling to Washington, 500 of them with tickets in the lower level of right field, literally having Harper's back," writes USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
- Harper's team has now started at least 3-0 "four times in the seven seasons in which he has played on Opening Day," according to Bob Vetrone Jr. — the 2019 Phillies (3-0), 2018 Nationals (4-0), 2014 Nationals (3-0) and 2013 Nationals (3-0).
- Harper will speak to Nationals reporters at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, according to 106.7 The Fan.
- Last season, the Phillies dropped 11 of their 19 meetings against the Nationals, going 4-6 at home and 4-5 on the road. Manager Gabe Kapler's club has lost five of their last six games against the Nationals overall since August 27 — a game where Eflin took the loss at Citizens Bank Park, after allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks spanning 5 1/3 innings and 102 pitches (68 strikes).
- The Phillies' "Sunday Night Baseball" appearance drew a 10.3 local rating — the highest-rated MLB game on ESPN in the Philadelphia market since 2010, Rob Tornoe reports.
Don't run on @JTRealmuto's 💪.
The @Phillies catcher had the best average pop time in baseball last season — and he caught Ozzie Albies trying to steal second last night with this 1.88-second beauty. pic.twitter.com/0YYznPt1rq
— #Statcast (@statcast) April 1, 2019
- The Phillies have a tough task going against Scherzer; their 1-through-5 hitters from the opening series have struck out in a combined 36 of 78 career at-bats against him, collecting only three singles, two doubles, three home runs, five RBI, and four walks with a .103 batting average. Against Braves pitching in the 2019 season-opening series, however, these batters reached base in 29 of their 64 plate appearances.
- Hoskins, in particular, is hitless in 11 career at-bats against Scherzer with one walk and seven strikeouts (.000/.083/.000).
- The club's 6-through-8 opening series hitters, meanwhile, have struck out in 21 of their 105 career at-bats against the right-hander, logging 17 singles, five doubles, one triple, two home runs, six RBI, 11 walks, and a .238 batting average.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, April 3, 2019: at Washington Nationals, 1:05 p.m.
- Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
- RHP Aaron Nola (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. RHP Anibal Sanchez
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
