Nationals vs. Phillies Preview
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel thought his team could have done a little better on the best 10-game trip in franchise history.
Left-hander Cole Hamels was “a little frustrated” that he just missed a shutout the last time he took the ball.
Winners of 12 of 13 and running away with the NL East, the major league-best Phillies need to look hard to find ways to criticize their recent efforts.
Philadelphia goes for its eighth straight home victory against the Washington Nationals in Friday night’s series opener, as Hamels will likely face a lineup without Michael Morse.
After the Phillies rallied from six down to defeat Los Angeles 9-8 on Wednesday, Manuel was pleased with the 9-1 trip but still expected more.
“We’re still striving to get that 10 (wins), though,” Manuel told the Phillies’ official website. “This team is about excellence, isn’t it?”
While the four-time defending East champs are 37 games above .500 (77-40) for the first time since 1977 and lead second-place Atlanta by 8 1/2, they’re trying not to let up.
“The potential is sky high, but we just continue to try to remain focused on what the goal is,” said Ryan Howard, hitting .300 with five homers and 14 RBIs during the 12-1 run. “I’m sure at the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to win the championship.”
That could happen if the Phillies’ superb pitching continues. Their starters, who have a major league-best 2.97 ERA, posted a 2.43 ERA on the trip.
Hamels (13-6, 2.53) has surrendered two runs or fewer in 13 of 14 starts and barely missed a shutout in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at San Francisco, giving up a homer to Pablo Sandoval with two outs in the ninth.
“I think (shutouts) are more impressive than complete games. … So I was just a little frustrated,” Hamels said.
The Nationals (56-61) know that feeling when facing the two-time All-Star, who has won his last six decisions versus Washington. Hamels improved to 10-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 19 starts in this matchup after throwing a five-hitter in a 4-1 home win May 3.
Nationals right-hander Livan Hernandez (6-11, 4.41), who allowed four runs and 10 hits in that contest, gets the ball following his worst start of the season. He was tagged for nine runs over a season-low 3 2-3 innings in a 15-7 loss at Colorado on Saturday.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers have made the Phillies -280 money line favorites for Friday’s game against the Nationals. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 83% of more than 253 bets for this game have been placed on the Phillies -280.
“He wasn’t real sharp, and when he’s not on, bad things happen,” manager Davey Johnson said.
Facing the Phillies could produce similar results for Hernandez, who has a 7.63 ERA while losing his last three starts at Citizens Bank Park.
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will try to extend his hitting streak to 20 after hitting a solo homer in Thursday’s 4-3 loss at Chicago. He’ll face the Phillies for the first time in 2011 due to a two-month stint on the disabled list with a left abdominal strain.
Morse, batting .319 with team highs of 20 homers and 68 RBIs, could miss the series opener after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow Thursday. Morse was taken for X-rays, and he told the Nationals’ official website in a text message that he has a left elbow contusion.
“His whole arm was shaking,” Johnson said. “… We’ve just got to keep our fingers crossed.”
Former Phillie Jayson Werth went 2 for 10 with four strikeouts as Washington was swept May 3-5 in his first trip to Philadelphia since signing a $126 million deal in the offseason.
Washington has lost 24 of 28 in Philadelphia.
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