Nationals Going for Sweep Against Phillies 6/5 Lineup and Preview
The Washington Nationals have already secured their second series win in a row with their two wins over the struggling Philadelphia Phillies but today they will attempt to go for their first series sweep since the second week of April and all signs point to them secure this victory.
In the last four games where Yu Darvish is not the pitcher the Nationals have scored 34 runs as well as hitting eight home runs in that span. The offense has especially received a jolt from the return of Ryan Zimmerman who since being activated off the DL is 3-8 with two doubles as well as playing left field for the first time in his career. However the hottest Nationals hitter is not Ryan Zimmerman it is Denard Span. Span after a slow start to the season has got hot especially in the last six games as he has hit 11-23, which has raised his average to a respectable .284.
The Phillies are really struggling as of late as the 24-33 team has now last five games in a row and in those games have been outscored 35-13. The Phillies continue to do terrible against the Nationals as they have now lost ten of their last twelve games against the Nationals including all of the games played in Nationals Park.
To make matters worse for the Phillies on the mound for the Nationals is the hottest pitcher in the staff, Doug Fister. Since he struggled in his first start Fister has registered a win in each of his next four as well as not allowing more than two runs in those respected starts to bring his ERA to 2.13 since his one bad start. To add to his great pitching Fister has been getting a ridiculous amount of run support to a tune of 7.25 per game.
Apposing Doug Fister on the mound for the Phillies is Kyle Kendrick who is 1-5 with an ERA of 4.21 on the season but has only got 10 runs of support in his last five games but his struggles are magnified when he comes to D.C. as he had an ERA of 9.88 ERA in losing each of his three starts last year.
Ian Desmond will receive his first day off this season today as Danny Espinosa will replace him at Shortstop while Anthony Rendon moves off of the hot corner and will play second base. However instead of Ryan Zimmerman taking over third base Kevin Frandsen will which will only add more confusion to the fielding situation for the Nationals.
The Nationals Lineup:
D. Span, CF
A. Rendon, 2B
J. Werth, RF
A. LaRoche, 1B
R. Zimmerman, LF
K. Frandsen, 3B
D. Espinosa, SS
J. Lobaton, C
D. Fister, P
The Phillies Lineup:
B. Revere, CF
J. Rollins, SS
C. Utley, 2B
R. Howard, 1B
J. Mayberry Jr., RF
D. Brown, LF
W. Nieves, C
R. Brignac, 3B
K. Kendrick, P
