Phillies at Nationals (Game 2)
The Washington Nationals fought through two straight rainouts, gave Bryce Harper a record contract and pulled off a walk-off win on a busy Saturday. Harper and company are in for an even busier Sunday when they make up for Friday's rainout by hosting the Philadelphia Phillies in a day-night doubleheader.
Harper and the Nationals avoided arbitration next winter by agreeing to a $21.625 million extension for the 2018 season, the largest contract ever for an arbitration-eligible player, on Saturday and the All-Star outfielder went out later that night to belt a two-run walk-off homer to give Washington a 6-4 win over the Phillies. "He's our own," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told reporters of Harper. "Drafted, developed, signed, been an MVP for us. He's a very unique player. There's not many comps for his performance, both in the short-term and in the bulk throughout his career. So he's a unique player with a unique talent set that is our own. We love what he's done for us, and we couldn't be happier that we know where we're at in 2018." Harper is 3-for-14 with seven walks against Phillies Game 1 starter Jeremy Hellickson and 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two walks in his career against nightcap starter Vince Velasquez. Philadelphia, which dropped 11 of its last 13 games, will send its hitters up against lefty Gio Gonzalez and Washington ace Max Scherzer.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (2-3, 5.94 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (4-2, 2.59)
Velasquez had a string of three straight solid outings come to an end against Washington on May 6, when he allowed six runs and seven hits over seven innings to suffer a loss. The 24-year-old struck out eight in that turn and posted his two biggest strikeout totals of the season against the Nationals after fanning 10 in a loss on April 7. Velasquez has 22 strikeouts in 17 career innings against Washington but is just 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA.
Scherzer can rack up some high strikeouts totals as well and punched out 11 in each of his last two outings. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner took a no-hitter into the sixth inning at Baltimore on Tuesday but ended up without a decision as the Nationals went on to fall 5-4 in 12 innings. Scherzer went up against Velasquez on April 7 and earned the win while allowing two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals SS Trea Turner is 3-for-29 over his last seven games, dropping his average from .316 to .257.
2. Philadelphia 1B Tommy Joseph is 11-for-23 with four doubles and two home runs in his last seven games.
3. Washington RHPs Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley were both activated off the disabled list on Friday and combined to throw 2 1/3 hitless innings on Saturday.