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Nationals (94-61) vs. Phillies (62-94) Series Info:
Game 1: Monday, Sept. 25 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7 The Fan)
Game 2: Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7)
Game 3: Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7)
Pitching Matchups:
Monday: A.J. Cole (2-5, 4.43 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (12-10, 3.56)
Tuesday: Gio Gonzalez (15-7, 2.68) vs. Jake Thompson (2-2, 4.14)
Wednesday: Tanner Roark (13-10, 4.41) vs. Mark Leiter (3-6, 4.69)
What to watch for:
Bryce is back!
The wait is finally over, as Bryce Harper is expected to be activated from the disabled list in this series as early as today.
Harper is 31 plate appearances shy of qualifying for the batting title, meaning he’s going to need to average a little over 4.4 plate appearances per game with seven contests remaining on the schedule.
Most importantly, however, is that he’ll be able to get some much-needed playing time before the postseason begins in order to regain his timing and comfort level in the field.
Here we are talking about that Victor Robles kid again
When one 0-4 night drops your batting average from .308 to .235, it’s probably an indicator that you haven’t played very much.
Yet what stands out about Victor Robles aren’t any gaudy numbers, but the tools he’s flashed since making his debut Sept. 7.
Robles has blazing speed, good range in the outfield and the ability to hit the gaps when he wants to.
With nobody else emerging in the competition for the Nats’ final playoff roster spot, we may very well be seeing a little more of Robles come October.
Aaron Nola providing Phillies with stability in rotation
It’s no secret that the Phillies have struggled to fill their rotation over the past few years, but Aaron Nola has finally given Philadelphia hope that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
Nola’s 119 ERA+ is the best mark posted by a qualified Phillies starter since Cole Hamels finished sixth in Cy Young voting with a 152 ERA+ back in 2014.
At only 24 years old with four more seasons left of control, the Phillies hope that Nola can be the rock which they build their rotation around.
Who to watch out for: Nick Williams
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Rhys Hoskins has been garnering all the headlines, but fellow rookie Nick Williams has quietly been putting together an impressive rookie season.
Williams is hitting .285 with an .810 OPS, 11 homers and 52 RBIs in 77 games this year, all while playing all three positions in the outfield.
A former second-round pick, Williams may be the final piece of the outfield puzzle to play alongside Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr that the Phillies have been looking for.