Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions August 15th 2024

Thursday’s matchup between the Nationals and Phillies has a first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET from Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -273, while the Nationals are +225 underdogs. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

NSPPH will be televising this NL East matchup, and Zack Wheeler will be on the mound for the Phillies. The Nationals are starting Mitchell Parker, and they are 55-66 this season, which has them in 4th place in the NL East. The Phillies are 70-50 and will be looking to extend their lead in the division.

Washington vs. Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Nationals at Phillies
• Where: Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
• Date: Thursday, August 15th
• Betting Odds PHI -273 | WSH +225 O/U 8.5

Left-hander Mitchell Parker gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Phillies on the road. He has made 21 starts this season and has a record of 6-6 with an ERA of 3.83. Parker’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.20. In his last outing, Parker finished with a no-decision, going 6 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on eight hits. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Parker has allowed a total of 14 home runs this season. Looking at his numbers, he has a much higher ERA on the road at 9.64 compared to 3.85 at home.

Washington’s offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game this season, which is 17th in the league. They have been a bit better at home, averaging 4.2 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .244, which is 11th in the league, and are also one of the league’s best teams at not striking out. However, they are last in the league in home runs and have a collective isolated power of just .131.

Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams are the Nationals’ top home run hitters this season, with 14 and 17 homers, respectively. Garcia Jr. is also batting .291 this season and is on a three-game hitting streak. Over his last seven games, he has gone 7/22 with one home run and six RBIs. Abrams is also batting .252 for the season and has driven in 59 runs.

• The Nationals are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Nationals are 4-6
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Washington has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 5.8 runs per game on offense

Zack Wheeler gets the start for the Phillies today and comes in with a record of 11-5 and an ERA of 2.78. So far, he has made 23 starts and 17 of them have been quality starts. Wheeler’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.00. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up two earned runs on seven hits. Before that, he had won three straight starts. Wheeler’s ERA at home is 2.78, and he is 7-3 at home compared to 4-2 on the road.

So far this season, the Phillies are the 7th highest scoring team in the league, averaging 4.8 runs per game. At home, they have been even better, putting up 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, they are 8th in home runs and have the league’s 5th best team batting average. Heading into the game, Kyle Schwarber has been hot, batting .281 with five homers over his last eight games.

As a team, the Phillies have three hitters in the top 10 in RBIs, with Alec Bohm leading the way with 81 RBIs and a batting average of .297. Schwarber’s 28 homers is 9th best in the league, and Bryce Harper is also in the top 10, with 26 homers of his own.

• The Phillies are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Phillies are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Philadelphia has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Phillies have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Phillies are 4-6
• Looking back across the Phillies last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Philadelphia has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Phillies have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense

After snapping a losing streak with a much-needed win against the Miami Marlins, the Philadelphia Phillies are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they head into a four-game series against the Washington Nationals. Fueled by Kyle Schwarber’s game-changing grand slam, the Phillies are determined to put their recent struggles behind them and stay in the hunt in the National League East.

Phillies Looking to Build on a Big Win

The Phillies finally broke out of a four-game slump with a 9-5 victory over the Marlins on Wednesday, and it was Kyle Schwarber’s bat that made all the difference. His seventh career grand slam turned a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead, reigniting the team’s spirits and quieting a restless home crowd. It was exactly the spark the Phillies needed after winning just eight of their last 25 games.

Schwarber reflected on the importance of the win, acknowledging the ups and downs of a long season. “It’s a grind, but the key is to make those rough patches as short as possible,” he said. “We’re working through it, and when you come out the other side, you’re stronger for it.”

Though Schwarber has struggled against the Nationals this season—going just 2-for-18 in six games—he remains a crucial player as the Phillies aim to build on their recent victory.

Trea Turner’s Struggles and Manager’s Strategy

The Phillies are also hoping for a turnaround from Trea Turner, who’s been in a serious slump since the All-Star break, hitting just .168 with 20 strikeouts. In an effort to help him reset, manager Rob Thomson decided to bench Turner in the series finale against the Marlins.

“It’s about giving him some extra time in the cage, letting him rest, and just taking a breather,” Thomson explained.

Pitching Duel: Wheeler vs. Parker

The Phillies will send right-hander Zack Wheeler (11-5, 2.78 ERA) to the mound for the series opener on Thursday. Wheeler has bounced back nicely after a tough outing against the Yankees, delivering strong performances in his last two starts, including eight scoreless innings against the Mariners. He’s had a mixed history against the Nationals, but he secured a win over them earlier this season, giving up just two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

The Nationals will counter with rookie lefty Mitchell Parker (6-6, 3.83 ERA), who’s coming off a solid no-decision where he allowed two unearned runs over 6 1/3 innings against the Angels. This will be Parker’s first time facing the Phillies, adding some unpredictability to the matchup.

Nationals Focus on Youth and Growth

The Nationals have had a tough season, losing 10 of their last 16 games, including a 4-1 defeat to the Orioles on Wednesday. Despite the rough stretch, manager Dave Martinez is staying positive about the development of his young squad.

“It’s all about progress. We’re starting to see the pieces come together,” Martinez said. “The young guys are getting it, and we’re competing better every day.”

One of the bright spots for the Nationals has been Alex Call, who’s been on a tear, hitting .426 with 11 RBIs in 15 games since his call-up from Triple-A.

Phillies Eyeing Another Win

With a confidence-boosting win under their belts, the Phillies are aiming to build momentum in this crucial four-game series against the Nationals. Schwarber’s grand slam has reinvigorated the team, and they’ll need strong outings from Wheeler and the rest of the lineup to keep pushing forward in the NL East race.

For the Nationals, it’s all about nurturing their young talent and playing spoiler, looking to throw a wrench in the Phillies’ postseason plans. This series is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the season for both teams.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is our lowest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Nationals to pick up the win. Offensively, the Phillies have the 2nd worst team hits projection, and Zack Wheeler has the 5th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.