By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (43-36) and RHP Nick Pivetta will take on rookie RHP Erick Fedde and the Washington Nationals (41-38) in the second of a four-game series Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals have lost five of their last six games, seven of their last 10, and 10 of their last 13.
Aaron Nola entered a three-way tie for the most wins in the National League, 10, as he and the Phillies edged the Nationals in Thursday's series opener, 4-3. The right-hander threw a career-high 114 pitches and became the seventh Phillies starter since 1999 to win 10 games prior to July. Jorge Alfaro, Scott Kingery and Rhys Hoskins supplied all the club's offense with a RBI single, sacrifice fly RBI and two-run home run, respectively. Seranthony Dominguez picked up his sixth save, and second in as many days.
The Phillies have won four of seven meetings with the Nationals this season, outscoring them by a plus-eight run differential, 37 to 29. With Thursday's win, the Phillies are now above .500 in both day (17-12) and night (25-24) games this season, and are 13-16 against all National League East opponents.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (41-38) | Philadelphia Phillies (43-36) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Erick Fedde | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (0-3, 5.32 ERA) | (4-6, 4.06 ERA) | ||||
RHP Erick Fedde, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1.667 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1.667 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: N/A
Fedde has yet to earn a career win through seven appearances since his July 2017 debut. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native fell to the Phillies in his most recent start, June 23 at Nationals Park. In six innings, Fedde allowed three runs on eight hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. WSN: 0-1, 12.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 6 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 5 BB, 8 SO, 3.000 WHIP
- Career vs. WSN: 0-2, 9.19 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 15 2/3 IP, 27 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 7 HR, 9 BB, 19 SO, 2.298 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 7-6, 4.30 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 117 1/3 IP, 109 H, 58 R, 56 ER, 20 HR, 32 BB, 144 SO, 1.202 WHIP
Pivetta will look for his first career win against the Nationals in five starts overall. The right-hander received a no-decision against the Nationals in June 24, allowing two runs for the second straight start. Pivetta has 20 strikeouts over his last two outings, but has allowed a double in six straight appearances since May 27.
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (41-38) | Philadelphia Phillies (43-36) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Adam Eaton | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | SS | Trea Turner | R | 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 3 | CF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R | 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 5 | LF | Juan Soto | L | 5 | SS | Scott Kingery | R |
| 6 | 1B | Mark Reynolds | R | 6 | RF | Dylan Cozens | L |
| 7 | 2B | Wilmer Difo | S | 7 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 8 | C | Spencer Kieboom | R | 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 9 | P | Erick Fedde | R | 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies (.544) hold a 1/2-game lead for the second National League Wild Card spot over the Los Angeles Dodgers (.538). They trail the Atlanta Braves (.570) by two games in the division race. On Friday, Atlanta opens a tough, 10-game road trip against the St. Louis Cardinals (.532), New York Yankees (.667) and Milwaukee Brewers (.587).
- Dylan Cozens will make his first start since June 8, and his second appearance since returning from the disabled list on June 24, recovered from a strained left quad.
- The Nationals drafted Pivetta in the fourth round of the 2013 amateur draft, and dealt him to the Phillies on July 28, 2015 for franchise saves leader Jonathan Papelbon and cash.
- If the Phillies win two of the three remaining games in the series, they will secure their fifth series victory out of their last six series overall.
- The Phillies are 41-29 (.586) in the 70 games Hoskins has played in this season. Without him, the club is just 2-7 (.222).
- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is 3-3 with a double lifetime against Fedde. Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper each have two career home runs against Pivetta.
In the News:
- Phillies' Potential Blockbuster Acquisitions of Hamels, Beltre, Diekman Could Propel Club Into Postseason [Link]
- Phillies' Nola Proving Ace, All-Star, Cy Young Award Worth [Link]
- 'Increasingly Possible' Former Phillies Ace Hamels Dealt Before All-Star Game [Link]
- Hoskins becomes fastest Phillie ever to reach 30 home runs [Link]
- Phillies' Eflin caps off career-best month with 5th straight win [Link]
- Phillies 2008 World Series champion OF Jayson Werth retires [Link]
- Kapler: Phillies GM Klentak Is 'Excellent Evaluator, Dealmaker' [Link]
- Kapler: ‘No Doubt’ Arrieta Will Take Phillies Into Postseason [Link]
What's Next:
Saturday, June 30, 2018: vs. Washington Nationals, 6:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 2.28 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (5-8, 4.69 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
