Philadelphia Phillies vs
Washington NationalsPredictions & Preview

Phillies Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Nationals in Washington DC

In this content, we provide a preview of the upcoming game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals in the nation's capital. The Phillies are coming off a tough loss to the Reds while the Nationals managed to avoid a sweep against the Royals. Our prediction for this game is detailed for MLB enthusiasts and sports bettors looking for insight into the matchup. This article was written prior to the conclusion of the first game at Nationals Park on Thursday night.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -175 | Nationals +152
• Spread: Phillies -1.5 (-102) | Nationals +1.5 (-115)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Philadelphia will win straight-up is 64%.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies suffered a second consecutive loss, falling to the Reds in the rubber game of their recent three-game series. Despite the loss, the Phillies maintain a five-game lead over the Mets in the NL East with a record of 69-51. In the game against Cincinnati, the Phillies struggled offensively, only managing three hits and failing to score any runs with runners in scoring position. Cristopher Sanchez took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs over six innings. Zack Wheeler will be starting the next game for the Phillies, with a record of 10-5 and a 2.68 ERA for the season. In his career, Wheeler has a 14-15 record against the Nationals, with a 4.32 ERA in 221 innings pitched.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals snapped a two-game slide and avoided a sweep by defeating the Royals in the series finale on Wednesday. Currently in the basement of the NL East, the Nationals are 21 games behind the Phillies for the top spot and 16 games behind the Mets for the final wild card spot in the National League playoff race. Against Kansas City, Washington finished with 10 hits with standout performances from Brady House and Daylen Lile. Nathaniel Lowe and CJ Abrams homered in the victory. MacKenzie Gore will make his 25th start of the year in the next game, coming off a recent win against the Giants where he pitched six scoreless innings. Gore has a 5-12 record with a 4.09 ERA this season and has struggled in his last three starts. He will face the Phillies in this upcoming game, looking to improve his career record at Nationals Park.

Phillies Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies faced significant defeat in their recent games against the Cincinnati Reds, with a cumulative score of 14-1. Their road record this season stands at 32-30 as they prepare for their next game. Starting pitcher Wheeler has a history of strong performances against the Nationals at Nationals Park. On the other hand, Gore has struggled in recent games and only managed one win in the nine starts before his last outing. The Washington Nationals have faced challenges throughout the season, particularly in their bullpen. With Wheeler leading the league in strikeouts and Gore's recent struggles, it may be difficult to have confidence in the Nationals for the upcoming game. As a result, the Phillies may be the preferred choice in this match-up.

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