Philadelphia, PA – Tonight, in the series finale between the last-place Philadelphia Phillies (56-90) and the playoff aspiring Washington Nationals (74-70) at Citizens Bank Park, rookie right hander Alec Asher will make his fourth career start with hopes of avoiding the sweep.
Infielder Chase d'Arnaud, who was recently recalled in replacement of the injured Cesar Hernandez, will be making his first start at the hot corner since 2011.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (74-70) | Philadelphia Phillies (56-90) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Gio Gonzalez | RHP | Alec Asher | ||
| (10-7, 3.88 ERA) | (0-3, 10.67 ERA) | ||||
Gonzalez, who turns 30 years old on Saturday, has allowed only one earned run over 11 1/3 innings and two starts in the month of September.
In his career at Citizens Bank Park, the southpaw is 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.116 WHIP ratio. The Nationals have lost each of Gonzalez's last three starts in Philadelphia, however, being outscored by the Phillies four runs to nine.
The eight-year veteran was once a Phillies' prospect, having been acquired from the Chicago White Sox as a player-to-be-named later in the December 2005 trade centered around Jim Thome.
Almost exactly one year later, Gonzalez was dealt back to Chicago, along with RHP Gavin Floyd, in exchange RHP Freddy Garcia. At the time, Garcia was a eight-year veteran with 116 wins and a 4.01 career ERA over 1,643 2/3 innings.
Asher, 23, is 0-3 with a 10.67 ERA and 2.023 WHIP ratio over three career starts.
Native to Lakeland, Florida, the rookie right hander was acquired from the Texas Rangers' organization on July 31 as a part of the returned haul from the Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman trade.
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (74-70) | Philadelphia Phillies (56-90) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Anthony Rendon | R | 1 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 2 | 3B | Yunel Escobar | R | 2 | 2B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | CF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 4 | LF | Jayson Werth | R | 4 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R |
| 5 | 1B | Clint Robinson | L | 5 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R |
| 6 | SS | Ian Desmond | R | 6 | LF | Darnell Sweeney | S |
| 7 | C | Jose Lobaton | S | 7 | 3B | Chase d'Arnaud | R |
| 8 | CF | Michael Taylor | R | 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 9 | P | Gio Gonzalez | R | 9 | P | Alec Asher | R |
Game Notes:
- In Tuesday evening's 4-0 Nationals victory, outfielder Bryce Harper went 3-3 with two home runs and a walk. He had all four runs-batted-in on the night as well. Over 27 career games and 112 plate appearances at Citizens Bank Park, the three-time All-Star is batting .287/.357/.594 with four doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 15 runs-batted-in.
- Giveaway: Pope Francis Rookie Baseball Card
- OF Jeff Francoeur, SS Freddy Galvis and IF/OF Darin Ruf each have two career doubles against Gonzalez over 20 at-bats. Additionally, they are batting a combined .367 (22-60) with four home runs, six walks and 11 runs-batted-in.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:05 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Friday, September 18, 2015: at Atlanta Braves, 7:35 pm
- LHP Adam Morgan (5-6, 4.60 ERA) vs. RHP Williams Perez (5-6, 5.36 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Saturday, September 19, 2015: at Atlanta Braves, 7:10 pm
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Weber (0-1, 4.38 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Sunday, September 20, 2015: at Atlanta Braves, 1:35 pm
- RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 4.11 ERA) vs. RHP Julio Teheran (10-7, 4.34 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
