Venue: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
First Pitch: 6:45 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP (Philadelphia), 106.7 The Fan (Washington)
Match Context
The Phillies, leaders of the NL East, aim to snap a three-game skid after dropping Thursday’s opener 3–2. The Nationals, last in the division, have won 4 of their last 6 and are 3–4 against Philly this season. Despite the standings gap, Washington has proven pesky, especially at home.
Philadelphia’s offense has cooled, scoring just 3 runs total over their last 3 games. Washington capitalized Thursday with a clutch 2-RBI single from José Tena in the 7th inning.
Starting Pitchers
Philadelphia Phillies – Zack Wheeler (10–5, 2.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP)
- 189 K in 144 IP
- 2–0 vs. Nationals this season
- 8 of last 10 starts: 8+ strikeouts
- ERA ranks 8th in MLB; WHIP ranks 3rd
Washington Nationals – MacKenzie Gore (5–12, 4.09 ERA, 1.33 WHIP)
- 158 K in 132 IP
- 13 K vs. Phillies on Opening Day
- Coming off 10-K shutout vs. Giants
- 1 win in last 5 starts
Key Hitters to Watch
Philadelphia Phillies
- Kyle Schwarber – 42 HR, 98 RBI, .249 AVG
- Trea Turner – .281 AVG, 3 doubles, 1 HR in last 10 games
- Bryce Harper – .256 AVG, 18 HR, 27 doubles
Washington Nationals
- James Wood – 25 HR, 78 RBI, .268 AVG last 10 games
- C.J. Abrams – .266 AVG, 16 HR, 25 doubles
- Paul DeJong – HR in Thursday’s win
Team Trends & Stats
| Team | Record | Last 10 | Batting Avg | Team ERA | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillies | 69–52 | 6–4 | .249 | 3.10 | +11 |
| Nationals | 49–72 | 5–5 | .248 | 5.48 | –13 |
- Phillies are 30–14 when not allowing a home run
- Nationals are 21–56 when giving up a homer
- Phillies are 4–1 in Wheeler’s starts vs. Washington since 2024
Wheeler’s dominance and Philly’s urgency to halt their losing streak make them strong favorites. Gore has flashed brilliance but remains inconsistent. Expect the Phillies’ bats to wake up.
Game Odds
Philadelphia Phillies – 178
Washington Nationals 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, August 14, 2025
