Phillies at Nationals
With red-hot Odubel Herrera setting a torrid pace with a homer binge, the Philadelphia Phillies' offense is on a roll entering the middle contest of a three-game set at the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon. Herrera collected four hits and became the sixth Phillie to homer in five consecutive games in a 12-2 romp in the series opener.
Herrera is 13-for-22 with five homers, eight RBIs and 10 runs scored during a five-game hitting streak for Philadelphia, which has scored 42 times during its current 5-1 stretch. Carlos Santana homered and drove in four runs while Nick Williams collected two hits and three RBIs as the Phillies moved a half-game ahead of Washington into second place in the National League East. Michael Taylor had an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games for the Nationals, who have dropped eight of 11. Rookie Juan Soto has hit safely in six straight games for Washington, which sends Erick Fedde to the mound to oppose Aaron Nola in a matchup of 2014 first-round draft picks.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.55 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Erick Fedde (0-2, 5.63)
Nola is coming off his worst start of the year, lasting a season-low 4 1/3 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits in a no-decision at Milwaukee. That ended a stretch of superb pitching by the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 draft, who allowed one run or fewer in six of his previous eight turns. Bryce Harper is 8-for-17 with two homers off Nola, who is 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts versus Washington.
Fedde was selected 11 slots behind Nola in 2014 but he is still searching for his first major-league win as he prepares to make his seventh career start and fourth this season. He made his second straight start against the New York Yankees on Monday, taking the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Fedde has allowed eight homers in 31 1/3 career innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies 2B Cesar Hernandez is 11-for-30 with five RBIs and eight runs scored during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Nationals RHP Jeremy Hellickson will make a rehab start Sunday for Class A Potomac.
3. Philadelphia LF Rhys Hoskins has hit safely in six straight games, going 10-for-25.