WASHINGTON vs. PHILADELPHIA 8/27/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies hold a slight edge in the season series against the Washington Nationals, however Ryan Zimmerman’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning last week left a sour taste in their mouths. The sputtering Phillies (70-60) look to get back on track on Monday as they begin a six-game homestand with the first of three contests against the Nationals (65-66).

Philadelphia, which resides three games behind National League East-leading Atlanta, had lost six of seven before Rhys Hoskins and Carlos Santana belted back-to-back home runs while Maikel Franco and Wilson Ramos each had two-run shots in Sunday’s 8-3 romp versus Toronto. Hoskins went 4-for-12 with four RBIs and two runs scored against the Blue Jays after going 1-for-13 with five strikeouts in the previous series versus Washington. The Nationals followed Zimmerman’s heroics in Wednesday’s 8-7 win over Philadelphia with three straight shutout losses before erupting in Sunday’s 15-0 shellacking of the New York Mets. Mark Reynolds launched his sixth career grand slam in a six-run ninth inning for the Nationals, who have won just five of 14 overall and six of 13 versus the Phillies this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 4.23 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.93)

Strasburg struggled in his first start since missing more than a month with a neck problem, surrendering five runs – including two homers – over four innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who will make his 200th major league appearance Monday, received a no-decision in that last outing and sports a 10-2 mark with a 2.48 ERA in 22 career starts versus the Phillies. Franco went deep in his last meeting with Strasburg and is 7-for-22 with two homers against the hurler.

Like Strasburg, Eflin struggled in that Wednesday encounter versus Washington as he permitted five runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 frames of a no-decision. The 24-year-old pitched significantly better in his previous start against the Nationals, yielding two runs on six hits across five innings of a 12-2 romp. Bryce Harper is 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles against Eflin in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ramos is 12-for-25 with seven extra-base hits (five doubles, triple, homer) and eight RBIs in six games since being acquired from Tampa Bay.

2. Washington SS Trea Turner is 19-for-50 with 13 runs scored in the season series against Philadelphia.

3. Phillies INF Asdrubal Cabrera is 5-for-10 with three runs scored in his last two games after going 2-for-23 in his previous six.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Phillies 1