The Philadelphia Phillies will look to build momentum off their dramatic 14-9 comeback win when they face the Washington Nationals in the third contest of their four-game series on Wednesday.
The Nationals, in turn, will look to bounce back from a gut-punch loss on Tuesday.
And both teams will hope for good news on a key player who was a late scratch on Tuesday before the Phillies exploded for eight runs in the ninth inning.
Philadelphia played without majors home run leader Kyle Schwarber (low back tightness), while Washington was without its hot-hitting shortstop CJ Abrams (left side tightness).
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said Schwarber’s back locked up just before game time and they will see how he feels on Wednesday.
Nationals skipper Blake Butera said Abrams felt something on a throw before the game and is day to day.
Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.71 ERA) opposes fellow right-hander Miles Mikolas (2-6, 5.47), who could be preceded by an opener.
Nola has a 5.68 ERA without a decision in four June starts, yet the Phillies are 3-1 in those games. He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits (two of them homers) in five innings against the New York Mets on Thursday.
Nola has pitched past the fifth inning only once in his last eight starts.
He is 11-9 with a 3.94 ERA in 36 career appearances (all starts) against the Nationals.
Mikolas followed up one of his best outings of the season with a solid effort under trying circumstances. He pitched seven scoreless innings of bulk relief in a win against the Seattle Mariners on June 14, allowing just three hits.
Five days later with Cade Cavalli scratched due to illness, Mikolas moved up a day. He gave up five runs on nine hits (two of them homers) in six innings of bulk relief in a loss against the Tampa Bay Rays but saved the team’s bullpen.
“Miles has been awesome for us lately,” Butera said. “Even though it was last-minute, Miles was like, ‘I’ll be ready to go. Let’s do it.’ He goes a day earlier than he’s supposed to. A ton of credit for him to step up there and go in a spot where we were in trouble.”
Mikolas is 2-5 with a 4.39 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) versus the Phillies.
Tuesday’s game ping-ponged back and forth in the last two innings.
J.T. Realmuto’s three-run double gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead in the eighth inning, but Jorbit Vivas’ three-run homer in the bottom half regained the advantage for the Nationals.
Brad Lord got the first two outs in the ninth inning but Brandon Marsh belted a two-run game-tying homer, Bryson Stott hit a three-run shot and the visitors added three more runs to seal the deal.
“Those guys over there, they can hit the ball around,” Stott said. “You’ve got to keep them close if they have a lead and we know we can hit the ball around too. And you just got to keep adding on and adding on and try to put them away.”
Marsh has homered in consecutive games.
Washington’s late-inning relievers allowed 11 runs in two innings.
“About as frustrating of a loss as we’ve seen, as I’ve ever been a part of,” Butera said.
–Field Level Media
