Phillies (18-26) at Nationals (25-17)
4:05 p.m., TCN
The Phillies were stymied yet again by Max Scherzer in a well-pitched, 2-1 loss to the Nationals Friday night.
Yet, Saturday’s pitching figures to be just as good, if not better.
In Game 2 of the three-game series between the Phillies and Nationals, left-hander Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.24 ERA) squares off with right-hander Stephen Strasburg (3-4, 5.98 ERA).
Here are five things you need to know for the matchup:
1. Hamels dialed in
Cole Hamels is looking like vintage Cole Hamels, which is doubly good for the Phillies, of course, when it comes to victories and trade stock.
In his last three starts — all wins — Hamels has a 1.69 ERA with 24 strikeouts, four walks and a .197 opponents’ batting average.
And we all know the run-support narrative with the lefty ace. When he gets some — which isn't always that often — he’s pretty darn good. Since the start of 2014, Hamels is 11-0 in 17 starts in which he receives at least three runs of support.
However, the Phillies' MLB-worst offense scratching across three runs will be a tall order Saturday with Strasburg toeing the rubber. See why below.
2. Scouting Strasburg
No, Strasburg is not pitching well, but that may not matter Saturday.
That's because the 26-year-old has eaten up the Phillies since 2013. In his last nine starts against them, Strasburg is 5-0 with a 1.02 ERA, 76 strikeouts and nine walks.
The one thing going for the Phillies is that the 2009 No. 1 overall pick is enduring a puzzling 2015 season. He's thrown six or more innings just twice, with his best outing coming against the Phillies in which he threw 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 win on April 19.
Despite his litany of swing-and-miss stuff, Strasburg is allowing opponents to hit .316 off him this season with righties at a .340 clip.
The righty features a 96-mph four-seam fastball, high-80s changeup and a 12-to-6, low-80s curveball. He’ll also rarely mix in a slider and hard sinker.
Strasburg will throw his heater, changeup and curveball in all situations, and all three are strikeout pitches. Attacking him early in counts will be the Phillies' best bet, as opponents are hitting .478 against him on the first pitch and even .353 in 0-1 counts and .294 in 1-2 counts.
3. Holy Harper
Bryce Harper has been absolutely unconscious in May.
To put how unconscious in perspective, he has 11 home runs this month, matching the Phillies' team total in May and out-homering the Braves by two.
In 14 games since May 6, the 22-year-old is hitting .522 with 11 home runs, 24 RBIs and a 1.969 OPS.
On Friday night, in what looked like an inside-out swing, Harper snuck an opposite-field home run into the flower bed in left on a letter-high pitch from Sean O'Sullivan.
At this point, the Phillies need to avoid Harper as much as possible. If someone else beats you, hat tip to them.
Hamels, however, isn't one to shy away from challenges. Keep an eye on that matchup.
4. Watch the glove
Both the Phillies and Nationals have a tendency to be slipshod in the field, and in a low-scoring, pitching-dominant ballgame — like the one we could have Saturday — one mistake could be the difference.
MLB
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg often likes to have his best defense behind Hamels instead of stronger offensive options. The Phillies, of all teams, can ill afford to give opponents extra outs, especially against a league-leading offense like the Nationals.
The Phillies have committed the second-most errors (33) in the National League, while the Nationals haven't been much better with the fourth most (30).
On Friday night in a 1-1 game, Odubel Herrera had difficulty judging a double off the high wall in center field, allowing Scherzer to score from first base as the Nationals' eventual game-winning run.
Defense should be pivotal today just like it was last night.
5. This and that
• Harper is 8 for 28 (.286) lifetime against Hamels with one extra-base hit and five strikeouts.
• Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is 21 for 81 (.259) in his career against Hamels with three homers.
• Howard and Utley are a combined 7 for 46 (.152) lifetime against Strasburg with no extra-base hits and 14 strikeouts.
• The Nationals are 18-4 since April 28, best in baseball.
• The Phillies are an MLB-worst 6-16 on the road.
• The Phillies are 3-5 against the Nationals this season.
• Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond leads the NL in errors (11).