Washington @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2011 ) Washington 4, Philadelphia 2

THE STORY: Washington Nationals lefthander John Lannan finally ended his struggles against the Philadelphia Phillies his last time out. If he can beat the major league-best Phillies a second straight time, he’ll help the franchise accomplish something it hasn’t done since moving to Washington. Lannan will take the hill Saturday looking to lead the visiting Nationals to their first four-game winning streak against the Phillies. The last time the franchise won four straight against Philadelphia, it was known as the Montreal Expos.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Oswalt (4-7, 3.84 ERA) vs. Nationals LH John Lannan (8-7, 3.56).

Oswalt’s first start since June 23 was encouraging. The righthander, who missed 37 games with lower back inflammation, allowed three runs and a season-high 12 hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss to San Francisco on Sunday. “That was better than I thought I was going to be,” Oswalt said. “It wasn’t like I was giving up doubles into the gap.” Oswalt is 5-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 18 appearances against Washington. Laynce Nix is hitting .500 (10-for-20) with three homers and five RBIs against Oswalt. Lannan finally beat the Phillies on June 1 when he allowed an unearned run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The lefthander had been 0-10 with a 6.44 ERA in 13 previous starts against the Philadelphia. Raul Ibanez is 12-for-22 with two homers and four RBIs against Lannan.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (77-41): The Phillies returned from a franchise-best 9-1 road trip and managed only two runs against Livan Hernandez and two relievers in Friday's 4-2 loss. They lost for only the seventh time in the last 27 home games. Philadelphia still leads baseball in home wins (41). A fan in right field held up a sign that read: “Not Werth a Pence,” an obvious jab at former Phillie Jayson Werth and a reference to his replacement, Hunter Pence. Speaking of Pence, the Phillies are 11-2 since acquiring the two-time All-Star from Houston. Third baseman Placido Polanco is hoping to avoid sports hernia surgery. Polanco, who has missed the last six games, received an injection Tuesday. He will take batting practice Saturday before determining the next course of action.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (57-61): The Montreal/Washington franchise hasn’t won four straight against Philadelphia since a four-game sweep from August 25-28, 2003. The Nationals, who ended a five-game losing streak in Philadelphia, are hoping to have leading hitter Michael Morse back for Saturday’s game. Morse suffered an elbow contusion after being hit Thursday. He leads the team in average (.319), homers (20) and RBIs (68). Ryan Zimmerman had his 19-game hitting streak snapped on Friday. He went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. Werth is 3-for-14 with two RBIs in two games at Citizens Bank Park this season.

FINAL PITCH: Washington righthander Stephen Strasburg struck out five in three scoreless innings for Class A Potomac in his second rehab start Friday. The 23-year-old former No. 1 pick, who is making his way back from Tommy John surgery, threw 33 pitches. He will make another rehab start Wednesday and is hoping to return to Washington sometime in September.