Phillies (5-6) vs. Nationals (8-1)
7:05 p.m. on TCN
The Phillies were smacked around by the Nationals on Friday night, losing 9-1. The loss snapped the team’s three-game win streak. Aaron Nola and the Phillies will look to get revenge tonight against Washington ace Max Scherzer.
Here are five things to watch for when in game two of the series.
1. Where’s the offense?
It’s remarkable the Phillies have as many wins as they do considering the lack of offense. The Phillies rank 23rd in MLB in runs scored (30) and have not scored more than six runs in a game this season — good for an average of 2.7 runs per game.
The Phillies have been able to get by on pitching alone so far this season, but as we saw Friday night, that’s not a winning formula.
Adding to the problem, the Phillies' outfielders not named Odubel Herrera have been downright awful. Corner outfielders Tyler Goeddel, Cedric Hunter and Peter Bourjos have hit a combined .114 with just four extra-base hits (four Bourjos' doubles).
The Nationals are the first quality offense the Phillies have faced so far, and if they want a chance of taking a game in this series, the offense will have to match that Nats' scoring.
MLB
2. Take the lead
Pete Mackanin threw Emmanuel Burriss in the leadoff spot Friday night. He went 0 for 4 and did not reach base during the loss. Needless to say, the audition did not go to well.
In the revolving door that has been the leadoff spot, the Phillies’ hitters (Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez and Burriss) have hit a measly .154 in the team’s 11 games this season.
Look for Hernandez — who is hitting .294 on the season — to return to the leadoff spot after a day off on Friday.
3. A bump in the rotation
Well, it was bound to happen. The Phillies’ starting rotation’s amazing start to the season hit a road bump — in a big way. Phillies de facto ace Jeremy Hellickson got chased for five runs in the first inning, including a leadoff home run by Michael Taylor and a three-run double by Jayson Werth.
Now it's up to Nola to right the ship. Nola was electric in his first start of the year, tossing seven innings of one-run ball. His second start? Nola pitched well for the most part, with a few hiccups here and there.
But now the second-year stud will face a potent Nationals lineup — his first true test of the season. How will he fare? Nola’s success this season has largely come from his command. With 17 strikeouts in just two starts this season, Nola knows how to get hitters out. The Nationals, however, rank 25th in the league with just 62 strikeouts.
Nola will have to get creative and get hitters out with balls in play — something he has done well so far this season (14 groundball outs and 21 flyouts).
4. Scouting Scherzer
Everyone knows the deal with Scherzer by now. The 2013 AL Cy Young winner has been dominant since joining the Nationals in 2015. The righty posted a career-best 2.79 ERA with two no-hitters in 2015. This season, Scherzer is off to a slow start, posting a 4.15 ERA with five walks in two starts against a truly dreadful Braves team.
The Phillies will hope Scherzer doesn’t flip the switch Saturday.
In four games against the Phillies last season, Scherzer went 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA with three walks and 30 strikeouts, holding hitters to a .173 average. Herrera is the only everyday player on the Phillies hitting above .250 against Scherzer, posting a .308 average with a double and a triple in 13 at-bats.
5. This and that
• The Phillies gave up five total runs to Padres in their four-game series. Hellickson gave up five runs in the first inning Friday.
• Ryan Howard is 1 for 13 with eight strikeouts against Scherzer. The one hit is a double and he also has one walk.
• Nola and Scherzer have combined for 30 strikeouts in four combined starts this season.
• Howard’s 361st home run Friday tied him with Joe DiMaggio for 81st on the all-time list.