Nationals @ Phillies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Nationals (48-42)

@ Philadelphia Phillies (47-44)

Starting Pitchers:

Corbin (WSH): 7-5; 3.34 ERA

Nola (PHI) 8-2; 3.74 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Washington Nationals: 8-2

Philadelphia Phillies: 4-6

Current odds:

Washington Nationals: (+110)

Philadelphia Phillies: (-120)

• Bryce Harper’s decision to leave the only team he had ever played with this past offseason for the Philadelphia Phillies looked like a smart move when the Washington Nationals began the season 19-31. However, his Phillies will be looking up in the win column at their National League rival for the first time all season when they take the field for the second of three games in Philadelphia on Saturday when they host the red-hot Nationals. Washington (48-42) won for the 16th time in its last 20 games and improved to 29-11 since its dreadful start following Friday’s 4-0 victory, keeping Harper’s former team ahead of the Phillies (47-44) in the division standings. The win also increased the Nationals’ advantage in NL wild-card race to 1 1/2 games over Philadelphia, which remained one-half game ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild-card.

• Meanwhile, the Phillies continued their recent freefall, losing for the 13th time in its last 21 contests – a stretch that includes four consecutive defeats against Washington. Harper has been doing his part to spark Philadelphia, however, batting .322 with four homers, 12 RBIs, 12 walks and 12 runs scored over his last 16 contests.

• Corbin rolled into the All-Star break as hot as any pitcher in the majors, posting a 2-0 record and 0.96 ERA while striking out 35 over 28 innings across his final four starts. Although the 29-year-old did not factor into the decision in his last two turns, the first of those four outings came when he yielded one run on four hits over seven frames in a June 19 home win over the Phillies. Corbin also held his own in a no-decision at Philadelphia on May 4, permitting three runs over six innings.

• Nola finished the first half every bit as strong as Corbin despite struggling a bit with his control, going 2-1 with a 0.61 ERA while fanning 34 across 29 2/3 innings over his last four turns. The 2018 All-Star was sharp again in Sunday’s win at New York, holding the Mets to two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks in 6 2/3 frames. Nola gave up 11 runs (10 earned) over 9 1/3 innings without factoring into the decision in either of his two starts against the Nationals in early April.

• Nationals starting pitchers have posted a 1.20 ERA and combined to strike out 71 batters across 52 2/3 innings over the last eight games.

• The Phillies are 42-12 when scoring four or more runs in a game and 5-32 when they fail to do so.

• Washington did not hit a homer Friday, ending the longest home run streak in franchise history at 21 games.