The Philadelphia Phillies (13-15) and Washington Nationals (18-9) will close out a three-game National League East series on Sunday night at Nationals Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 ET on ESPN.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as +105 road underdogs, while the total has held steady at its opening number of 6.
Philadelphia has dropped the first two games of this series, including a 7-1 setback on Saturday afternoon, which moved the club to 4-6 in day games this year. The Phillies will be glad to be facing a right-handed starter in this contest, as they’ve dropped six consecutive games against southpaws.
Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.78 ERA) is definitely a nice option to have on the mound when looking to snap a losing streak, leading the club to four consecutive wins since suffering a 6-2 home loss against the Miami Marlins in his season debut on April 9.
The left-hander boasts a perfect 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA in three road starts, issuing four walks and striking out 17 in 20 combined innings. Tonight will be his fourth straight outing away from Citizens Bank Park.
In 20 career games versus the Nationals, Hamels has compiled a 10-4 mark and 2.71 ERA, including a 2-0 record and 2.05 ERA in four career efforts at this ballpark. He has not surrendered a hit to former teammate Jayson Werth in six at-bats against him.
The Phillies are 9-1 in Hamels’ last 10 starts in this series, while the “over” is 22-7-1 in the last 30 meetings overall in the nation’s capital.
Washington is 8-1 in nine series this year, and is led by a starting rotation that has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 18 of 27 games. The group leads all of baseball with a 2.09 ERA.
Jordan Zimmerman (1-2, 1.89 ERA) has been a key member of the staff, as he looks to bounce back from his worst effort of the 2012 campaign, giving up four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 6.1 innings in a 5-1 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The right-hander is searching for his first win of the season in front of the home crowd, going 0-1 with a 2.21 ERA in three starts at Nationals Park, as he’s received just six runs of support in those contests.
Zimmerman will also look to notch his first victory against the Phillies, coming in with a 0-2 mark and 6.60 ERA in three outings.
The Nationals are 5-12 in Zimmerman’s last 17 starts versus divisional foes, while the “under” has cashed in six straight games when he’s a home favorite.
Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a slight 5-10 mph breeze out of the southeast (right to left).
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