Washington, DC – For the first time since 1942, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-97) have fallen in at least 55 games away from their home turf.
Sunday afternoon, in the series finale matinee against the now-eliminated Washington Nationals (79-75), veteran RHP Aaron Harang will take the mound for what will be the Phillies' final road game of the 2015 season.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-97) | Washington Nationals (79-75) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Harang | LHP | Gio Gonzalez | ||
| (6-15, 4.93 ERA) | (11-8, 3.94 ERA) | ||||
Harang, 37, could be making his second-to-last appearance as a Phillie, as he is a free agent this offseason following a one-year, $5 million deal signed on January 5.
Over six career starts at Nationals Park, Harang is 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.429 WHIP ratio.
Gonzalez, 30, is 8-5 with a 2.99 ERA and a 3.28 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 15 career starts against the Phillies.
The veteran southpaw has allowed just three extra-base hits over his last five starts, 29.0 innings.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (58-97) | Washington Nationals (79-75) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 1 | CF | Michael Taylor | R |
| 2 | 2B | Andres Blanco | S | 2 | 2B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 3 | CF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | LF | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | 3B | Yunel Escobar | R |
| 5 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R | 5 | 1B | Clint Robinson | L |
| 6 | 1B | Erik Kratz | R | 6 | SS | Ian Desmond | R |
| 7 | 3B | Cody Asche | L | 7 | LF | Matt den Dekker | L |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | C | Jose Lobaton | S |
| 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R | 9 | P | Gio Gonzalez | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 1:35 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 98.1 WOGL, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Game Notes:
- Phillies starting pitchers have a 1.59 ERA over their current road trip (nine earned runs in 51.0 innings), and have allowed two earned runs or fewer in each appearance.
- First baseman Darin Ruf is 8-21 in his career against Gonzalez with two doubles, three home runs, seven walks and eight runs-batted-in (.381/.517/.905).
- Over their last 11 series at Nationals Park, the Phillies have fallen in eight of them. Additionally, Philadelphia has lost the season series against the Nationals three times over the last five seasons (2015: 6-12; 2014: 10-9; 2013: 8-11; 2012: 9-9; 2011: 8-10).
What's Next:
- Tuesday, September 29, 2015: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 pm
- RHP Bartolo Colon (14-12, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP David Buchanan (2-9, 7.96 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Wednesday, September 30, 2015: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 pm
- LHP Steven Matz (4-0, 2.27 ERA) vs. RHP Alec Asher (0-5, 7.52 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
- Thursday, October 1, 2015: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 pm
- RHP Logan Verrett (1-2, 3.40 ERA) vs. TBA
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
