Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2012 ) Philadelphia 0, Washington 3

For the past several years, a late August series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals meant a chance for the Phillies to pad their division lead against a sub-.500 team. This year it’s the other way around. The Nationals own the best record in baseball at 77-47 and have the biggest division lead with a six-game cushion over the Atlanta Braves. Five-time defending National League East champion Philadelphia sits 19 1/2 games back.

Washington has won five of seven and has not dropped a series since losing two of three at home to the Phillies from July 31-Aug. 2. Overall, the Nationals are enjoying a 5-4 lead in the 2012 season series. But Philadelphia will enter the series with some momentum after earning a four-game split with the Cincinnati Reds during the week, including a come-from-behind victory in extra innings on Thursday. The younger players are getting a chance to shine in the Phillies’ lost season, and Domonic Brown has stepped up lately with three extra-base hits in the last two games.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), CSN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (7-8, 3.69 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (6-9, 4.20)

Jackson was a tough-luck loser last time out, striking out 11 while surrendering two runs on two hits over seven innings in a 2-0 setback against the New York Mets. The veteran right-hander has never beaten Philadelphia, owning a career 0-3 record with a 5.60 ERA in three starts. Jackson was reached for a pair of solo home runs by Jimmy Rollins and another solo blast by Nate Schierholtz in a home loss to the Phillies on Aug. 1. He issued four walks in 5 1/3 innings during that outing.

Kendrick has not allowed a run over his last two starts, totaling 15 straight scoreless innings while allowing eight hits, walking one and striking out 15 in wins at Miami and at Milwaukee. The right-hander has bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen this season and is 4-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 17 starts. Kendrick suffered a loss to Washington in a start on May 21 despite yielding just two runs on five hits in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington manager Davey Johnson said that RHP Stephen Strasburg could miss his final 2-3 starts this season as he approaches his team-imposed innings limit.

2. Phillies RHP Phillippe Aumont made his major-league debut on Thursday and worked a scoreless inning. Aumont, who came over in the Cliff Lee trade from Seattle years ago, is one of several young relievers finally getting a chance.

3. The Nationals’ 41-23 road record is the best in the major leagues.