The Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League East with a record of 94 wins and 65 losses, are set to face off against the Washington Nationals, who currently sit in fourth place in the NL East with a record of 69 wins and 80 losses, this Saturday. The Phillies recently celebrated a victory over the Chicago Cubs, securing a 9-6 win. With their playoff spot secured, Philadelphia has clinched a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the NLDS. They enter this game having won two of their last three matchups. On the other hand, the Nationals suffered a 7-4 defeat to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, marking their third straight loss in that series and leaving them with only one win in their last ten games. As a result, Washington has been eliminated from postseason contention. Philadelphia will be without two pitchers and second baseman Rodolfo Castro, while the Nationals will miss four pitchers and position players Alex Call and Andres Chaparro.
This article was prepared before the Friday night matchup between these two teams.
Philadelphia’s Offensive and Defensive Dominance
The Phillies have established themselves as a powerhouse, ranking in the top five across several key offensive metrics. They currently sit 4th in runs scored with 774, batting average at .258, and on-base percentage at .326, and 5th in slugging percentage at .427. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 38 home runs, while Bryce Harper contributes significantly with 30. Schwarber also tops the team in RBIs with 102, closely followed by Alec Bohm with 95. Notably, four players on the Phillies have between 87 and 102 RBIs, showcasing their depth. In total, they have recorded 284 doubles, 23 triples, and 196 home runs, leading to an impressive 503 extra-base hits this season.
On the mound, Philadelphia shines as well, ranking 2nd in Quality Starts (79), 8th in WHIP (1.23), 9th in ERA (3.81), and 16th in batting average allowed (.241). Their ace, Zach Wheeler, is set to start on Saturday, boasting a record of 16 wins and 7 losses, with 213 strikeouts and an impressive ERA of 2.56. Wheeler is recognized for having the third-best WHIP in baseball at 0.96 and is also among the top three for wins and ERA in the league.
Washington’s Struggles on Both Ends
The Nationals have faced challenges this season, ranking 19th in both batting average (.241) and on-base percentage (.307), while they sit 25th in runs scored with only 642 and 26th in slugging percentage at .372. CJ Abrams leads the team with 20 home runs and ranks second in RBIs with 66. Luis Garcia Jr. follows closely with 17 home runs, but he is the team leader in RBIs with 68. Across their roster, four players have RBIs ranging from 42 to 68. The Nationals have accumulated 265 doubles, 16 triples, and a modest 131 home runs, resulting in just 412 extra-base hits this season.
On the pitching side, Washington ranks 23rd in ERA (4.32) and Quality Starts (49), and their WHIP stands at 1.33, placing them 24th. Additionally, they rank 28th in batting average allowed at .259. Jake Irvin leads the Nationals in wins with 10, while MacKenzie Gore, who is slated to start on Saturday, has been the strikeout leader with 172 and holds an ERA of 4.04 for starters. Currently, Gore’s record is 10 wins and 12 losses, with a WHIP of 1.45.
Betting Insights for Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals
Philadelphia has found success against Washington, winning six of their last seven encounters. The Nationals have struggled significantly, losing nine of their last ten games overall and posting a 7-13 record in their last 20 matchups against teams from the National League East. Zach Wheeler’s standout performance this season, characterized by 16 wins, a 2.56 ERA, and 213 strikeouts, has solidified his position as a formidable pitcher. He has performed exceptionally well in his recent outings, allowing two earned runs or fewer in ten consecutive starts, contributing to a 7-3 record for the Phillies during that stretch. Earlier this season, Wheeler faced the Nationals on August 15 and achieved a convincing 13-3 victory, giving up just one run in six innings. Washington’s MacKenzie Gore has shown improvement in his last two starts, but he still carries a 4.04 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, indicating room for growth. With Philadelphia already securing a bye in the first round of the playoffs and competing for home-field advantage in the upcoming series, the team is highly motivated to secure another win.
