Since looking acceptable over their first six games, the Phillies (3-7) have had no such luck with their past five contests, losing them all. They got swept by the Mets at Citi Field earlier this week and dropped game one of their series with the Nationals yesterday behind a shaky Cole Hamels. Tonight at Nationals Park will be yet another challenge for this stagnant offense as they try to get something started against former Tigers ace, Max Scherzer. Meanwhile, the Phillies will look to Sean O'Sullivan for another strong start in his second outing of the season.
After starting the season in Lehigh Valley, Sean O'Sullivan (0-0, 3.00) looks to be the Phillies fifth starter in the rotation for the time being. If he continues to throw like he did in his last start, that may not be a bad thing. In his start against the Nationals on April 12th in Philadelphia, O'Sullivan tossed six innings of two-run ball, striking out five hitters in the process. The Phillies ended up on the losing end of that one, 4-3. His recent outing against Washington was the first time the 27-year-old right-hander faced the Nationals in his five year career. Last season for the Ironpigs, O'Sullivan made 25 starts and posted a 6-10 record to go along with a 4.30 ERA.
The Nationals to send the Phils to their sixth straight loss tonight as they Max Scherzer (0-1, 0.66 ERA) takes the hill. The 2013 Cy Young Award winner's lone loss came against the Mets on April 6th. He gave up three unearned runs in the Nats 3-1 loss. His second outing came against the Phillies in the Nationals 4-3 win back on the 12th, when Sean O'Sullivan was also the opposing pitcher. The 30-year-old righty gave up just one run on six hits while striking out eight. In three career starts against the Phillies, Scherzer is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
Lineups
Phillies Lineup:
- Odubel Herrera (L) CF
- Freddy Galvis (S) SS
- Chase Utley (L) 2B
- Jeff Francoeur (R) RF
- Cody Asche (L) 3B
- Carlos Ruiz (R) C
- Ryan Howard (L) 1B
- Darin Ruf (R) LF
- Sean O'Sullivan (R) P
Nationals Lineup:
- Yunel Escobar (R) 3B
- Ian Desmond (R) SS
- Jayson Werth (R) LF
- Bryce Harper (L) RF
- Ryan Zimmerman (R) 1B
- Wilson Ramos (R) C
- Danny Espinosa (S) 2B
- Michael Taylor (R) CF
- Max Scherzer (R) P
Game Notes:
- Phillies vs. Max Scherzer
- Ben Revere – 6-for-17 (.353), 3B, BB, 2 K's
- Jeff Francoeur – 7-for-33 (.212), 2 2B's, 3B, HR, 2 RBI's, 10 K's
- Chase Utley – 1-for-4 (.250), 2B, BB
- Nationals vs. Sean O'Sullivan
- Bryce Harper – 1-for-3 (.333), HR, RBI
- Ryan Zimmerman – 1-for-2 (.500), BB
- Yunel Escobar – 1-for-3 (.333)
- The Phillies have scored first in just three of their first 10 games.
- The Phillies are last in the NL and 29th in baseball with a .149 batting average with runners in scoring position.
- The Nationals offense has been potent lately, socring 22 runs in the last three games.
Gametime: 7:05PM EST
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Weather: 71 degrees, Mostly Cloudy, 10 % chance of rain
TV: CSN
Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP, SBP 1480 (Spanish)
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
