Phillies @ Nats: Didn’t we just see these guys?

My Fellow Phans,

In what may turn out to be an NLDS preview, the Phillies defeated the Diamondbacks 2-of-3 games and in actuality outplayed Arizona for 26 of the 27 innings played that last series. The current NL West leaders were held to just 3 hits in each of the last two games in losing efforts.

So now, the Phillies travel back  to NL East play and battle the Washington Nationals. Here’s your series preview:

Phillies (80-42 1st NL East) @ Washington Nationals (59-63 4th NL East)

Friday, August 19:

7:05 @ Nationals Park – CSN

Roy Oswalt (5-7 3.84) vs. Livan Hernandez (7-11 4.21)

Saturday, August 20:

7:05 @ Nationals Park – CSN

Kyle Kendrick (7-5 3.25) vs. Jon Lannan (8-8 3.55)

Sunday, August 21:

1:35 @ Nationals Park – MyPhl

Roy Halladay (15-5 2.53) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (2-2 4.22)

Breakdown:

So this series looks oddly familiar. The Phillies are scheduled to face the same three starters that appeared last weekend in Philadelphia except for the fact that Sunday’s game was postponed.

Here’s how our two opponents, we faced last week fared against us:

- Hernandez allowed 0 earned runs in 6.2 innings against the Phillies last week gaining the only win for Washington in the series. This season, he is 2-1 with an 3.12 ERA against the Phillies in 4 starts thus far.

- Lannan allowed 7 runs, but just 1 earned, in 3 innings during an11-3 beat down from the Phillies. His ERA against the Phillies this season is an untidy 4.96.

- Wang did not get to start due to the cancelation. The only hitter we have with more than 10 at bats against him, is Raul Ibanez (24 ABs – .208 1HR 5 RBI).

Now for our boys:

- Roy Oswalt earned his first victory since he returned from the DL allowing 3 earned in 7 strong innings of work last weekend against the Nats.

- Halladay’s start was washed out against the Nats last Sunday. As for the season, Doc has pitched 23 innings against the Nats with an 3.13 ERA.

- Kendrick is making his first, and hopefully only, spot start for Cole Hamels. Cole is missing the start as a precaution.

Analysis:

I say this every time we play the Nats, but the Phillies better not take them lightly. One thing that the Phillies fans seem to forget during this season is that it is not that the Nationals have been that bad, they are just 4 games under .500, but the Phillies have been that good.

Although they sit 21 games back, it’s the Phillies strong play that put them there. Put Washington in the NL West and they’re only 9 games out, which is still a lot, but considerably less than 21.

What I am trying to get to here is that, like every Nationals series, is that this is going to be a tough series. Washington is a feisty team with some quality talent.

Prediction:

In the end though, I think the Phillies win 2-of-3.

Until we meet again Phillies fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies!