Nationals at Phillies
The Washington Nationals need to look no further than their scintillating starting pitching as the primary reason for their season-high seven-game winning streak. Although the rotation's scoreless stretch ended at a franchise-best 48 innings in the series opener, Washington expects to pick up where it left off as left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes the mound against the host Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
Max Scherzer continued his dominating run on the mound and Michael Taylor ripped a double among his two hits and scored twice as the Nationals breezed to a 5-2 triumph on Friday. Taylor is 11-for-27 with six runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak for National League East-leading Washington, which has outscored its foes by a 36-7 margin during its winning stretch. Philadelphia is obviously singing a different tune having dropped 16 of its last 21 to sit comfortably in the cellar. Ryne Sandberg saw the writing on the wall and abruptly resigned prior to the series opener, putting Pete Mackanin in the interim manager's role for at least the weekend.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (5-4, 4.41 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Adam Morgan (1-0, 1.59)
Gonzalez posted his first win in nearly one month on Sunday as he scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings en route to a 9-2 victory over Pittsburgh. The 29-year-old looks to build off that solid performance when he faces the Phillies, against whom he improved to 7-5 in his career after allowing just one run in 6 1/3 frames in a 4-1 win on May 24. Gonzalez would be wise to keep an eye on Ben Revere, who belted a pinch-hit homer on Friday and is 10-for-25 (.400) in his career versus the hurler.
Morgan made the most of his major-league debut on Sunday, permitting a solo homer for the lone run he allowed in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win against St. Louis. The 25-year-old ended the Phillies' franchise-record 25-game stretch of going without a victory by a starting pitcher, which is interesting because Morgan was 0-6 in 13 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before being called up due to injuries in the rotation. Sandberg credited both Morgan's command with his fastball and his poise after he struck out six in the win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals OF Bryce Harper's ailing right hamstring was "better, but still a little tight," manager Matt Williams told CSN Washington prior to the superstar missing his second game.
2. Philadelphia rookie 3B Maikel Franco is hitless in his last eight at-bats after going 13-for-21 with three homers and 11 RBIs during a five-game stretch.
3. Nationals INF Anthony Rendon was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left quadriceps strain.