Phillies at Nationals (Game 1)
Mother Nature has done the Washington Nationals no favors over the last two days, but a rare break in the inclement weather on Tuesday unfortunately provided the opportunity for ace pitcher Max Scherzer to sustain a broken nose during a bunting drill. The Nationals aim to rebound from that setback as they attempt to salvage part of their series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies with a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Matt Adams went deep for the second straight contest on Sunday by recording his ninth career multi-homer performance and driving in a career-high seven runs in Washington's 15-5 romp over Arizona. The 30-year-old aims to continue his hot hitting versus Philadelphia right-hander Jake Arrieta, against whom he is 9-for-25 with one homer and five RBIs. While the Nationals celebrated their 14th win in 21 games in style, the Phillies found themselves on the business end of a 15-1 beat-down by Atlanta on Sunday for their fifth loss in seven contests. Bryce Harper had an RBI single to hit safely for the ninth time in 11 games heading into a pivotal set versus his former team, against which he is 9-for-28 with two homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored this season.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (5-5, 4.11)
Arrieta recorded just his second win since April on June 11 after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings of a 7-4 victory against Arizona. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award recipient has registered an ERA of 5.40 in his last nine starts, posting a 3-3 mark in that span. Arrieta, who sports a 1-2 record with a 5.07 ERA in 14 career starts against Washington, received a no-decision versus the Nationals on May 4 despite permitting three runs on five hits in six innings.
Corbin matched a career-worst three-start losing streak and owns a bloated 11.37 ERA in that stretch after yielding seven runs in five innings of last Tuesday's 7-5 setback at the Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old was taken deep on two occasions in that contest and has surrendered six homers in his last five outings. Corbin, who owns a 3-2 mark with a 3.58 ERA in six career starts versus Philadelphia, received a no-decision in the encounter against Arrieta on May 4 after permitting three runs on six hits across six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Scherzer was in line to pitch one of Wednesday's games prior to Tuesday's rainout.
2. Philadelphia OF Scott Kingery is 11-for-22 with four homers and eight RBIs in his past six contests.
3. The NL East rivals will play a split doubleheader on Sept. 24 in lieu of Tuesday's rainout.