Nationals on Six-Game Slide
The Philadelphia Phillies go for a third straight win when they host the Washington Nationals in the second of a three-game series between division rivals on Wednesday night. Philadelphia took the series opener on Tuesday night and is in third place in the National League East, 4½ games behind the second-place Atlanta Braves.
Washington has dropped six straight and is in last place in the division, 12 games out of fourth place. Both of these teams have been up and down, so be sure to read our in-depth preview of this contest to help you with your betting online. Let’s check the latest MLB news, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds, for Nationals vs Phillies. We’ve plenty of MLB picks & predictions.
Bottom Falls Out for Nationals
After a pair of 10-inning losses over the holiday weekend, the Washington Nationals had hoped to regroup and turn things around against the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, they got worse, managing just three hits in Tuesday’s 11-0 loss.
Right-hander Josiah Gray will try to stop the team’s six-game losing streak when he takes the mound for this 16th start. The 24-year-old is 6-5 with a 4.22 ERA, striking out 88 in 81 innings. Gray is coming off a rough outing in his last start, facing the Miami Marlins on Friday and allowing six runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings, striking out six and walking two.
First baseman Josh Bell was hitless in the series opener, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Bell is ninth in baseball with a .315 batting average, hitting 17 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs, driving in 47 runs and scoring 44 times.
Outfielder Juan Soto didn’t play in Tuesday’s game, and his status for the rest of the series is up in the air. Soto, who left Sunday’s game with tightness in his left calf, only pinch-hit in Monday’s loss. Soto is batting .226 with 16 doubles, 15 home runs, 33 RBIs and 46 runs scored.
Phillies Show Power In Routing Nationals
The Philadelphia Phillies are missing one of the top hitters in the game in Bryce Harper, who is sidelined with a broken thumb, but there is not a shortage of power in the team’s lineup. That was shown on Tuesday night, as outfielder Kyle Schwarber had a pair of home runs to lead Philadelphia to an easy victory.
“I feel like we’re starting to get to the stride part,” Schwarber said after Tuesday’s win. “Everyone is starting to figure each other out. There are a lot of new faces in here this year. We’re all getting closer as a group. The wins were going to come at some point. We didn’t get off to the start that we wanted to. We wish that we got off to a better start, but it’s the reality of the situation. We didn’t.”
Schwarber is doing his part to help the Phillies get back in the playoff chase, earning NL Player of the Month honors for June and now leading the National League with 25 home runs. Schwarber is batting .219 with 12 doubles, 53 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
Going deep for the second straight game on Tuesday was catcher J.T. Realmuto, who drove in three runs. Realmuto is batting .244 with 11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
Philadelphia has shut out its opponent in its last two games, and Aaron Nola will try to keep that streak going on Wednesday. Nola is 5-5 with a 3.13 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 117 (tied for fourth in baseball) over 103.2 innings. Nola got a win in his last outing on Thursday despite allowing four runs on seven hits, including two home runs, over seven innings to the Atlanta Braves.
Nationals vs Phillies Head-To-Head
The Philadelphia Phillies have dominated their rivalry against the Washington Nationals over the past couple seasons, and that’s carried over to the 2022 campaign as well. Philadelphia has won five of the first six matchups this season, including taking four of five on the road.
The Phillies have won the season series in each of the last two seasons, going 20-9 against the Nationals, though they lost more than they won when playing at home a season ago. The MLB lines for Wednesday’s game see that trend continuing, with the Phillies a big favorite.
Nationals vs Phillies Game Information
- Game: Nationals (29-54) vs Phillies (43-38)
- Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
- Day/Time: Wednesday 7:05 p.m. ET
- Nationals vs Phillies LiveStream: MLB.tv
Nationals vs Phillies Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Washington Nationals
J. Gray -R |
+1½ -115 | +185 | 8 Evo | 2½ -150o
2½ +120u |
| Philadelphia Phillies
A. Nola -R |
-1½ -105 | -215 | 8 -120u | 4½ -105o
4½ -125u |
Nationals vs Phillies Prediction
The Washington Nationals are struggling and pressing at the plate, which is going to be a problem against a strikeout pitcher like Nola. The Philadelphia Phillies are brimming with confidence and will earn a second victory in this series.
When making your MLB picks, take Philadelphia to get the win at home.
