By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Following their brutal, walk-off loss, the Philadelphia Phillies (68-58) will aim to salvage the series finale in a Thursday matinee against the Washington Nationals (64-63) at Nationals Park. Cy Young Award hopefuls Aaron Nola and Max Scherzer will start, the first time two starters with a sub-2.25 ERA and 150-plus innings pitched face off since John Tudor and Dwight Gooden on Sept. 11, 1985.
Read: Phillies Place Bour, Ramos on 10-Day Disabled List, Add Avilan, Knapp
The Phillies have lost four straight games against National League East opponents since Saturday, outscored 29-14. The club blew three different leads in Wednesday's heartbreaking loss, which ended with a walk-off, two-run home run off the bat of Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman opposite closer Seranthony Dominguez, his fourth blown save. The offense fared well against Stephen Strasburg, doubling and homering twice against the right-hander. Justin Bour launched his first home run in a Phillies uniform, while Nick Williams and Carlos Santana extended their hitting streaks to seven games.
Manager Gabe Kapler's squad has dropped 12 of its last 16 games on the road, and has gone 0-5-2 over its last seven road series since early July. Conversely, the Phillies have won eight of their last 14 games opposite the Nationals, and aim to avoid being swept for the third time in Thursday's finale.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (68-58) | Washington Nationals (64-63) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Max Scherzer | ||
| (14-3, 2.24 ERA) | (16-5, 2.11 ERA) | ||||
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. WSN: 2-0, 1.98 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 2/3 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 5 BB, 13 SO, 1.024 WHIP
- Career vs. WSN: 3-4, 3.99 ERA, 12 G, 12 GS, 67 2/3 IP, 70 H, 31 R, 30 ER, 7 HR, 18 BB, 78 SO, 1.300 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 32 IP, 32 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 0 HR, 7 BB, 34 SO, 1.219 WHIP
Nola has won each of his last two starts, punching out a combined 16 batters in 13 innings against the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. Since the All-Star break, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.97 ERA and 1.000 WHIP, with 29 strikeouts in 32 innings. Nola has defeated the Nationals in each of his two appearances against them this season, allowing just three runs through 13 2/3 frames.
RHP Max Scherzer, Age: 34
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-0, 1.42 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, R, ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 15 SO, 1.105 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 9-1, 2.50 ERA, 15 G, 15 GS, 100 2/3 IP, 76 H, 28 R, 28 ER, 6 HR, 21 BB, 123 SO, 0.964 WHIP
- Career at Nationals Park: 27-16, 2.91 ERA, 60 G, 60 GS, 404 2/3 IP, 290 H, 138 R, 131 ER, 47 HR, 91 BB, 521 SO, 0.942 WHIP
Over his last eight starts since July 7, Scherzer is 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA, .200/.246/.349 opposing slash, and a 60-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 54 innings. During the two starts in which he did not win over that stretch, Scherzer allowed just one combined run over 14 frames opposite the postseason-contending Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (68-58) | Washington Nationals (64-63) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | RF | Adam Eaton | L |
| 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | SS | Trea Turner | R |
| 3 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 3 | CF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | S | 4 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 5 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 5 | LF | Juan Soto | L |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 1B | Mark Reynolds | R |
| 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 7 | 2B | Wilmer Difo | S |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | C | Spencer Kieboom | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | P | Max Scherzer | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With the Atlanta Braves winning three straight, the Phillies' division deficit has grown to three games amid their four-game losing streak. The Phillies also trail the second Wild Card spot by 1 1/2 games, with 36 games left in the regular season.
- During his seven-game hit streak, Santana is slashing .400/.455/.650 with two runs scored, five singles, two doubles, one home run, five RBI, two walks, two strikeouts and one stolen base.
- Phillies catcher Wilson Ramos hopes to return to action on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, after missing the first two games of the Nationals series so far due to a sore left wrist, NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury reports. Ramos underwent an MRI early Wednesday in Philadelphia, and returned to the nation's capital afterwards to be available as a reserve behind Jorge Alfaro.
- Nola and Scherzer have the top two WAR among all major league pitchers, 8.3 and 7.7, respectively.
- Through 36 career at-bats opposite Scherzer, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is slashing .333/.429/.472 with three doubles, one triple, two RBI, six walks and seven strikeouts. Santana, meanwhile, has just four hits through 45 career at-bats opposite the right-hander (.089/.212/.133) (click to expand).
What's Next:
Friday, August 24, 2018: at Toronto Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m.
- Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
- RHP Jake Arrieta (9-8, 3.25 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Borucki (2-3, 4.27 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
