Nationals at Phillies
The Washington Nationals have enjoyed swinging the bat in Philadelphia this season and they'll aim for their second straight series win at Citizens Bank Park when they wrap up a three-game set with the host Phillies on Sunday. A 13-hit attack, including three home runs, led the Nationals to a 10-8 win in Saturday's matchup.
Washington is 3-2 in Philadelphia this year and is averaging eight runs per game in those five matchups, including three in which it has scored at least 10 times. Kurt Suzuki's pinch-hit three-run homer and Victor Robles' solo blast keyed a four-run eighth inning to lead the way for the Nationals on Saturday. Jean Segura had three hits, two runs and an RBI for the Phillies and he is 10-for-21 with six runs scored over his last five games. He and his teammates will take aim at veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez on Sunday, while Philadelphia gives the ball to Zach Eflin.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (0-4, 5.91 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (3-3, 3.34)
Sanchez remained winless on the season and lost his third straight start after allowing three runs over five innings against St. Louis on Tuesday. He opened the year with back-to-back starts versus the Phillies, giving up seven runs and 11 hits in 9 2/3 frames while falling to 5-10 with a 4.66 ERA in his career against the National East rival. Segura is 5-for-9 and catcher J.T. Realmuto is 4-for-9 with a homer against the 35-year-old Sanchez.
Eflin notched his third career complete game with a dominating effort against the Miami Marlins his last time out. He allowed a run and seven hits while striking out three in the outing to snap a personal three-game losing streak. The former first-round selection began the year with five scoreless innings and a season-high nine strikeouts at Washington.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals placed LF Juan Soto (back) on the 10-day injured list and recalled OF Andrew Stevenson from Triple-A Fresno.
2. Washington LHP Sean Doolittle notched his fifth save Saturday while lowering his ERA in 15 appearances to 1.15.
3. Realmuto had three RBIs in Saturday's loss after recording just one over his previous nine contests.