Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions August 18th 2024

From Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, we have the Nationals and Phillies facing off in an NL East matchup. This one gets started at 1:35 PM ET, and it is MASN that is carrying the TV rights for Nationals.

The Phillies are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -177 compared to the Nationals at +148. Sunday’s forecast in Philadelphia calls for light rain and temperatures in the low 80s. Jake Irvin is starting for the Nationals, and he is facing off against Taijuan Walker. Philadelphia comes in with a record of 73-50, while the Nationals are 55-69 overall. The over/under line is currently 9.5 runs.

Jake Irvin gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Phillies on the road. So far this season, he has made 25 starts and has a record of 9-10. Irvin’s ERA is 3.72, along with a WHIP of 1.13. In his 25 starts, he has pitched 145 innings and has turned in 14 quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Irvin picked up the win vs. the Orioles, going six innings and giving up two earned runs. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. His ERA at home is 4.55 compared to 3.74 on the road.

Washington’s offense has been one of the worst home run hitting teams in the league this season and is also just 19th in the league in scoring, averaging 4.2 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .243, which is 11th in the league, and are near the top of the league in terms of avoiding strikeouts. Heading into the game, Keibert Ruiz and Lane Thomas are both on hitting streaks, with Ruiz having hits in four straight games and Thomas in three.

For the season, CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. are the Nationals’ top home run hitters, with 17 and 14 homers, respectively. They are also the team’s top two players in terms of RBIs. Garcia Jr. comes into the game batting .290 for the season, while Abrams is hitting just .246. Over his last five games, James Wood is batting .421.

Right-hander Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Phillies today and will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Marlins. In that start, he took the loss, going 4 innings and giving up 3 earned runs, 4 hits, and 3 walks. Walker has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings. So far this season, he has made 11 starts, has a record of 3-4, and an ERA of 5.68. Opposing batters are hitting .279 off Walker this season. Per nine innings, he has 7.58 strikeouts and 3.79 walks.

Philadelphia’s offense has been one of the league’s best this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 6th in the MLB. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Overall, they are 4th in batting average and have the league’s 8th ranked home run total. Heading into the game, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto are both on six-game hitting streaks.

Kyle Schwarber has been a big power threat for the Phillies this season, as his 28 homers are the best mark on the team and 8th in the league. However, he has struggled at the plate of late, going just 3/25 in his last six games. Alec Bohm has gone 6/22 in his last six games, including one home run, and is batting .296 for the season. His 85 RBIs are the best mark on the team and 7th in the league.

Phillies Poised to Sweep Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up to finish off a four-game sweep against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, continuing their dominance in this season series. The Phillies have outplayed the Nationals in the first three games, outscoring them 21-6, and are looking to ride this momentum as they head into the crucial final stretch of the season.

Phillies’ Commanding Series Performance

Philadelphia has been in full control throughout this series, winning all three games with relative ease, including a 5-1 victory on Saturday. The Phillies have now taken eight out of nine meetings with the Nationals this season, with six straight wins, showing their clear superiority in this matchup.

Saturday’s standout performance came from pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, who threw his second career complete game, allowing just two hits. Sanchez’s dominant outing highlighted the strength of the Phillies’ pitching staff, which has been a major factor in their recent success.

Nationals Struggling to Keep Pace

The Nationals, meanwhile, are in a slump, having dropped four straight games. Their offense has been nearly non-existent, managing only two hits on Saturday, including a solo home run by Alex Call. Nationals manager Davey Martinez voiced his frustration with the team’s inability to generate any offense, acknowledging that they simply couldn’t get anything going against Sanchez.

Sunday’s Pitching Matchup: Irvin vs. Walker

Jake Irvin (Washington Nationals)

Jake Irvin enters Sunday’s game with a 9-10 record and a 3.72 ERA. He’s coming off a solid start against the Baltimore Orioles, where he allowed just two runs over six innings. However, Irvin has had a tough time against the Phillies this season, posting a 0-2 record with a 6.55 ERA in two starts. The Nationals will need Irvin to be at his best to have any shot at avoiding the sweep.

Taijuan Walker (Philadelphia Phillies)

Taijuan Walker, with a 3-4 record and a 5.68 ERA, will be making his second start since coming off the injured list. In his last outing, he allowed three runs over four innings in a loss to the Miami Marlins. Phillies manager Rob Thomson is hopeful that Walker can find his rhythm and deliver quality innings as the season winds down, emphasizing Walker’s potential to be a key contributor when he’s on his game.

Phillies’ Rotation Set to Get a Boost

The Phillies’ starting rotation might soon get a significant boost with the return of All-Star left-hander Ranger Suarez, who has been out since July 27 due to lower back soreness. Suarez threw a successful simulated game on Saturday, and manager Rob Thomson is optimistic about his return, which could happen as early as next weekend. Suarez’s comeback would provide a timely lift to the Phillies as they continue their playoff push.

Alec Bohm’s Streak Continues

Third baseman Alec Bohm has been a standout player for the Phillies, extending his on-base streak to a career-high 34 consecutive games on Saturday, the longest active streak in the majors. Bohm has been on fire lately, batting .310 with 13 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs over his past 22 games, reinforcing his importance to the Phillies’ offense.

Game Implications: Sweep in Sight

For the Phillies, completing a sweep of the Nationals would not only solidify their dominance in the season series but also keep their momentum rolling as they approach the final weeks of the season. With key players like Alec Bohm stepping up and the potential return of Ranger Suarez, the Phillies are well-positioned to make a strong postseason push.

The Nationals, on the other hand, are struggling to keep pace and will need a strong performance from Jake Irvin to avoid a sweep. With their offense sputtering, the pressure is on the Nationals to find a way to turn things around and salvage the final game of the series.

Phillies Look to Complete Sweep as Nationals Seek to Rebound

As the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals prepare for the series finale, the Phillies are on the verge of completing a dominant sweep and continuing their impressive run. With Taijuan Walker on the mound and Alec Bohm leading the offense, the Phillies are in an excellent position to keep their momentum going. Meanwhile, the Nationals are desperate to avoid a sweep and need a breakout performance to shift the tide. Sunday’s game is set to be a crucial moment for both teams as they navigate the remainder of the season.

Our lean for an over/under pick in this Nationals vs. Phillies matchup is to take the under. We have this as the 5th lowest-scoring game of the day, and for a money line pick, we are leaning towards the Phillies to come out on top. Offensively, the Phillies have the 10th highest team hits projection, and Taijuan Walker has the 6th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters.