Nationals at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have a couple of weeks to decide if they will start unloading veterans at the trade deadline. Another few wins against the Washington Nationals, who visit Philadelphia on Tuesday, could convince the Phillies to stay in the race instead. Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins have all heard their names in trade rumors as Philadelphia has hovered below .500.
The Nationals are all-in for 2013 but showed off some of the inconsistency that has plagued the offense this season in Monday’s series opener. After piling up 32 runs during a four-game winning streak, Washington was held scoreless until the ninth inning in a 3-2 loss on Monday. Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper both had big weekends and were the only two Nationals players with multiple hits against the Phillies.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Taylor Jordan (0-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (3-11, 4.38)
Jordan has made two major-league starts since joining the rotation on June 29 and has yet to complete six innings. The 24-year-old rookie nearly notched a quality start last time out, when he held the Milwaukee Brewers to two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Jordan lasted 4 1/3 innings at New York in his lone road start, allowing three runs (one earned) in a loss.
Hamels snapped a four-start winless streak last time out by holding the Pittsburgh Pirates to one earned run while striking out eight in seven innings. The veteran left-hander has received an average of only 3.33 runs of support from his offense in 2013. Hamels got one run of support at Washington on May 26 and was not much help to himself, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits in six innings to suffer the loss.
WALK-OFFS
1. Harper was selected to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby. Phillies OF Domonic Brown (23 home runs) was passed over.
2. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
3. Washington OF Scott Hairston was acquired from the Cubs on Monday but did not get to the park until late in the game. He could make his team debut on Tuesday.