The Washington Nationals continue to provide a cure for whatever ails your Philadelphia Phillies.
Consider:
– Since the start of the 2020 season, the Phils are 45-19 against the Nats and 246-245 against every other MLB team.
– In 2021, the Fightins’ first winning season in a decade, they went 13-6 against Washington and 69-74 against everyone else.
– In 2022, it took a 16-3 record against the Nationals to get the Phillies into the postseason at 87-75 overall. You may remember that the Phils were left for dead after a five-game losing streak in late September. Then they won three of four rainy games in DC, Aaron Nola pitched a gem in Houston, and suddenly they were Dancin’ on Their Own.
– The 2023 Phillies finally accomplished something without much help from the Nats, going just 7-6 against them while reaching the playoffs. Even then, however, the Phils outscored Washington 93-50.
Here in 2024, the Phillies limped into Nationals Park with a 2-4 record after losing home series against the Braves and Reds. They departed 4-5 after winning the series. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, but in a much better situation than a few days ago.
On Friday, Nola, Matt Strahm, Seranthony Dominguez, and Jose Alvarado combined for a two-hit shutout. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh drove in runs as the Phillies won, 4-0.
J.T. Realmuto hit a three-run home run for the Phils on Saturday. Ranger Suarez pitched six strong innings before Jeff Hoffman, Gregory Soto, and Alvarado closed out a 5-2 win.
The Phils almost completed the three-game sweep on a sunny Sunday afternoon in DC, but their bats fell silent in a 3-2 loss. Edmundo Sosa’s bat was a notable exception, providing two of the team’s five hits–including a solo homer–and driving in both runs. Cristopher Sanchez allowed three runs in 4.1 innings and took the loss.
Sosa started at second base and Whit Merrifield started in left field as manager Rob Thomson sat Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott against Nationals southpaw MacKenzie Gore. Asked about the two young lefty hitters when they sat last week, Thomson said that Marsh “has improved against lefties,” and “at some point, he’s an everyday guy.” He added that Stott will not sit against most left-handed starters, noting that it’s early in the season.
Thomson seems to want a lot of hitters in the mix in the early going. The substitutions get bench bats like Sosa, Merrifield, and Cristian Pache involved, and may pay dividends by keeping the regulars healthy. It’s a strategy that invites criticism from Marsh and Stott enthusiasts. But on Sunday at least, Sosa and Merrifield (who scored on Sosa’s second-inning single) were not the problem.
The Phillies begin a three-game series in St. Louis against the Cardinals on Monday. Spencer Turnbull is scheduled to pitch against St. Louis righthander Miles Mikolas.
