Washington @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2012 ) Washington 2, Philadelphia 4
Much like the man he will oppose Saturday, Washington Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez has enjoyed the transition from the American League to the National League. On Saturday, Gonzalez will try to extend his franchise-record for wins when he faces Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies won the series opener Friday, handing the NL East leaders a rare road setback. Washington's 41-24 road mark is the best in the majors.
The Nationals turn to Gonzalez to get them back to their winning ways - and given his performance in two starts against the Phillies this season, he is the right man to do it. Gonzalez held Philadelphia to one run over seven innings on May 5 in Washington and tossed six scoreless frames on May 21 in Philadelphia. Halladay has been nearly as dominant against the Nationals over the years, going 11-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) against Washington.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN, CSN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (16-6, 3.23 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Roy Halladay (7-7, 3.95)
Gonzalez matched his career-high with his 16th win Sunday, holding the Mets to one run over 5 2/3 innings. He has won three straight starts and continues to anchor a strong Washington staff. Gonzalez is tied with Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto, Tampa Bay's David Price and the Los Angeles Angels' Jered Weaver for the major-league lead in wins.
Halladay is in danger of falling short of double-digit wins for the first time since 2004, but he is closing in on the total after winning three of his last four starts. He wasn't at his sharpest Monday against Cincinnati, allowing five runs in seven innings, but he got plenty of support in a 12-5 win. Halladay gave up a pair of homers in a loss to Washington on May 22, as he was charged with five runs over six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals (77-48) need just four more wins to match their highest total since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005.
2. Nationals SS Ian Desmond (right knee) was scratched from the lineup Friday. Desmond is 5-for-23 (.217) in six games since coming off the disabled list Aug. 17 after a long bout with an oblique injury.
3. Halladay's loss to the Nationals in May snapped a streak of 11 straight wins against the franchise dating to 2002, when they were the Montreal Expos.