By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (12-15) will look to snap their three-game skid in the series opener against the National League East division-leading Washington Nationals (19-9) and RHP Stephen Strasburg Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies rookie RHP Nick Pivetta will make his second career start, and his first at home, in place of injured RHP Aaron Nola (lower back strain).
Pivetta faces his former organization in the Nationals, who dealt him to the Phillies in July 2015 in exchange for closer Jonathan Papelbon.
The Phillies return for a five-game homestand after losing six of their seven games on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers and reigning World series champion Chicago Cubs. They were outscored 36-32, batting .255/.324/.431. The Phillies' 65 hits over this stretch, however, tied with the Nationals for the third-most in the National League. On the mound in 62 1/3 innings, Phillies pitching posted a 4.91 ERA — 5.26 by starters and 4.30 by relievers.
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper is day-to-day with groin tightness after a diving play in right field. Harper, 24, made a precautionary early exit Thursday evening in the Nationals' 4-2 home victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was replaced by outfielder Chris Heisey in the top of the seventh. The four-time All-Star and 2015 National League Most Valuable Player is batting .376/.504/.723 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.
The Nationals, who have a MLB-best winning percentage (.679) and run differential (+48), also lead in the following per game statistical categories: runs (6.39), at-bats (35.43), hits (10.25), doubles (2.25), RBIs (6.25), total bases (17.39), batting average (.289), slugging percentage (.491), on-base percentage (.366) and OPS (.857).
The Phillies and Nationals have split their six matchups so far this season, each going 2-1 at their home ballparks. Washington took 14 of the 19 overall meetings in 2016.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (19-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (12-15) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Stephen Strasburg | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (2-1, 3.09 ERA) | (0-1, 3.60 ERA) | ||||
Strasburg Career vs. PHI: 8-2, 2.47 ERA, 19 G, 19 GS, 124 IP, 86 H, 41 R, 34 ER, 10 HR, 21 BB, 154 SO, 0.863 WHIP
Strasburg, 28, has never lost at Citizens Bank Park through seven career starts and 44 innings, going 2-0 with 61 strikeouts, a 1.64 ERA and a 0.841 WHIP ratio at the venue.
This season, the eight-year veteran has received two no-decisions in as many starts against the Phillies, allowing a combined five runs on 10 hits and five walks through 14 innings. The San Diego, California native has pitched seven innings in each of his five starts overall in 2017 — all against National League East opponents — allowing no more than three runs, six hits and three walks.
Pivetta Career vs. WSN: N/A
Pivetta, 24, allowed just two runs on nine hits and a walk in his Major League debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 30. The Victoria, Canada native struck out five batters in as many innings. He threw 91 pitches, 59 of which were strikes.
The Nationals selected Pivetta in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB amateur draft out of New Mexico Junior College.
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (19-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (12-15) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Trea Turner | R | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | LF | Jayson Werth | R | 2 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 3 | 2B | Daniel Murphy | L | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R | 5 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 6 | CF | Michael Taylor | R | 6 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 7 | RF | Chris Heisey | R | 7 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 8 | C | Matt Wieters | S | 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 9 | P | Stephen Strasburg | R | 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes
- Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph is 2-9 lifetime against Strasburg with two home runs and three RBIs. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez is 7-22 against the right-hander with a pair of doubles and RBIs, while third baseman Maikel Franco is 3-14 with a home run, two walks and two RBIs. Center fielder Odubel Herrera has struck out in nine of his 17 career at-bats against Strasburg, although two of his three career hits against him went for extra bases.
- Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has the longest active hitting streak in the National League, 11 games. Over this stretch, Zimmerman is batting .477/.520/.977 with 15 runs, 21 hits, six home runs, 17 RBIs and five walks spanning 44 at-bats.
- More than half (8) of the Phillies' 15 losses have been by just one run — including Thursday's 5-4 series finale defeat to the Cubs. That is the most among all Major League teams this season.
- Prior to the game, the Phillies recalled RHP Jake Thompson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Ty Kelly was optioned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate.
NL East Standings (entering May 5, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 19 | 9 | — | 6-4 | W2 | 9-6 | 10-3 |
| Miami Marlins | 12 | 15 | 6.5 | 3-7 | L1 | 5-6 | 7-9 |
| New York Mets | 12 | 15 | 6.5 | 4-6 | W1 | 4-10 | 8-5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 12 | 15 | 6.5 | 4-6 | L3 | 7-4 | 5-11 |
| Atlanta Braves | 11 | 15 | 7.0 | 5-5 | L1 | 5-5 | 6-10 |
What's Next:
- Saturday, May 6, 2017: vs. Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP A.J. Cole (2017, Triple-A: 1-1, 6.63 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (2-2, 5.47 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
