Phillies at Nationals
Sunday afternoon's series finale between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals features two pitchers with a combined four Cy Young Awards between them. Jake Arrieta, who is a 2015 recipient, aims to provide the visiting Phillies with a series victory on Sunday afternoon when he is opposed by Max Scherzer, who won the award in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
Rhys Hoskins belted a two-run homer and Maikel Franco added a run-scoring single in Saturday's 3-1 triumph for Philadelphia (18-14), which is just 4-7 since a torrid 11-2 stretch. Franco has boosted his batting average from .241 to .271 after going 12-for-38 with three homers, eight RBIs and six runs scored in his last 10 games, but he's just 2-for-21 in his career versus Scherzer. Wilmer Difo launched a solo homer to extend his hitting streak to eight games, during which he is 12-for-22 with eight runs scored for Washington (17-17). Bryce Harper answered his two-homer performance in the opener by going hitless for the second time in three outings heading into a tilt against Arrieta, against whom is a respectable 4-for-14 while drawing six walks.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (3-1, 3.49 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (6-1, 1.79)
Arrieta paid immediate dividends on his three-year, $75 million contract by recording a 1.82 ERA in his first four starts before enduring his worst outing of the season on Monday. The 32-year-old, who saw the first four batters reach base in the third inning, was blitzed for six runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings in an 8-4 setback to Miami. Matt Adams (7-for-22) and Anthony Rendon (4-for-11) have enjoyed success versus Arrieta, who owns a 1-2 mark with a 5.48 ERA in nine appearances against the Nationals.
Scherzer recorded his fifth consecutive quality start on Tuesday after allowing two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 12-4 out of Pittsburgh. The NL Pitcher of the Month for April has permitted seven runs on 15 hits while striking out 48 batters during his five-game winning streak. Odubel Herrera is 10-for-33 in his career versus Scherzer, however the right-hander has flustered Carlos Santana (3-for-42, 10 strikeouts) and Aaron Altherr (0-for-9, six strikeouts) en route to posting a 9-1 career mark against the Phillies with an 0.95 WHIP.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington OF Michael Taylor is 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts in his last five contests.
2. Philadelphia 2B Cesar Hernandez has scored three times during his five-game hitting streak.
3. Nationals 2B Howie Kendrick, who is a former Phillie, is 1-for-10 in his last three games after collecting 14 hits in his previous 10.