Monday, April 11, 2011
Posted: 9:24 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (7-2) at Nationals (4-5), 7 p.m. on CSN
Starting pitchers
Phillies: Joe Blanton (0-0, 14.54)It wasn't an impressive season debut for Blanton, who allowed seven runs in 4 13 innings against the Mets on Wednesday. However, he allowed just four earned runs in 13 innings in two starts at Nationals Park in 2010.
Nationals: Livan Hernandez (0-1, 4.76) - The veteran right-hander is 11-10 with a 3.60 ERA in 27 career starts vs. the Phils. His last start came Wednesday, when he yielded four runs in five innings in a loss to the Marlins.
Previous games
The Phillies are coming off a series victory against the Braves. Cliff Lee was roughed up in the opener before Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels pitched the team to victories in the last two games of the set.
Washington took two of three from the Mets over the weekend. Their 7-3, 11-inning win on Sunday was highlighted by two hits and a pair of RBIs by Ivan Rodriguez and a late three-run homer by Laynce Nix.
Head-to-head
The Phillies were 12-6 against the Nationals in 2010, including a 5-4 mark in Washington. They last time they were here, Roy Halladay pitched them to the NL East clincher in the opener of a three-game series.
Whos hot?
Shane Victorino was on fire during the Braves series, going 9-for-13 with five runs scored. He actually has five multi-hit games in a row, dating back to the Mets series. He is tied for second on the Phils in RBIs with eight, trailing only Ryan Howard (11).
MLB
Storylines
The big story to follow in this series is Jayson Werth taking the field against his former team. The Nats broke the bank for Werth over the winter, and some reports have there being bad blood between the outfielder and his former organization, particularly in the wake of the Lee signing. Werth is hitting .200 with one homer on the young season.
Sound off
In the wake of the Cliff Lee signing, is Jayson Werth justified in his anger towards the Phillies for not re-signing him?
Related: Werth goes from friend to foeBuy Phillies gear