Washington @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2012 ) Washington 8, Philadelphia 4
Jayson Werth tuned out the boos and silenced the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Werth will look to push his former team to the brink of elimination on Thursday when the visiting Washington Nationals face their NL East rivals in the rubber match of their three-game series. Philadelphia, which sits 5 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the race for the second wild card, will have to contend with 20-game winner Gio Gonzalez on Thursday.
With the Citizens Bank Park faithful giving him an earful, Werth provided insurance in Wednesday's 8-4 triumph by ripping a two-run single in the ninth inning. Rookie Bryce Harper and Kurt Suzuki belted two-run homers for the Nationals, who remained four games up on Atlanta and trimmed their magic number to the same amount. Werth and the Nationals would like nothing better than to knock the five-time reigning National League East champion into the ropes - and inch closer to the division title in the process.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), WB17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (20-8, 2.84 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Tyler Cloyd (2-1, 3.86)
Gonzalez collected his 20th victory after allowing just two runs on three hits in seven solid innings versus Milwaukee on Saturday. The 27-year-old fell for the first time in three career outings Aug. 25 versus Philadelphia despite recording a quality start. Gonzalez has struck out 23 Phillies this season while limiting the club to a .176 batting average.
Cloyd will make his sixth start of the season as ace Roy Halladay's turn in the rotation was shuffled to Saturday. The 25-year-old was stellar in his last outing, scattering three hits over eight sizzling innings in a 16-1 triumph against the rival Mets. Cloyd hasn't fared well in front of the home folks, losing his lone decision while getting touched for seven runs in 10 innings of work.
WALK-OFFS
1. Harper has collected three multi-hit games in his last five outings. The rookie phenom needs just three more stolen bases to reach the 20-20 club.
2. Halladay completed a bullpen session on Wednesday and deemed himself ready to start Saturday's game against Miami. The Phillies' ace was dealing with spasms behind his right shoulder.
3. Jimmy Rollins belted his 23rd homer - and eighth in September - on Wednesday. Rollins is 2-for-4 with a double and two walks in his career versus Gonzalez.