Series Preview: Phillies at Nationals, 4/12-4/14

The big story of the Phillies vs. Nationals series will, of course, be Jayson Werth's first meeting with his former team after signing a massive free agent contract last off-season. After helping the Phillies win four straight National League East Division championships, Werth signed a 7-year $126 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Werth, who is off to a slow start, is looking to help his new club turn things around in the division as his 4-5 Nats host the 7-2 Phillies for a three-game series at Nationals Park.

In the opening game of the series, right-hander Joe Blanton, who is hoping to put a weak season debut behind him, will take on veteran righty Livan Hernandez.

Read ahead for details on the pitching match ups and more key details on this series.

Tuesday, 7:05PM. Joe Blanton (0-0, 14.54 ERA) vs. Livan Hernandez (0-1, 4.76 ERA). In 12 career starts against the Nats, Blanton has a 3-3- record with 5.73 ERA. In 14 road games last season, Blanton posted a 5.47 ERA. Ivan Rodriguez is 6-for-16 (.375 avg) in his career against Blanton. In 27 career starts against the Phillies, Hernandez has a 11-10 record with a 3.60 ERA. In 26 starts at Nationals Park, Hernandez is 9-10 with a 4.30 ERA. Jimmy Rollins is 13-for-61 (.213 avg) with 2 homers in his career against Hernandez.

Wednesday, 7:05PM. Roy Halladay, (1-0, 0.69 ERA) vs. John Lannan (1-0, 3.60 ERA). In 12 career games against the Nationals, Halladay has an 8-1 record with a 1.96 ERA. In 2 starts at Nationals Park last season, Halladay went 2-0 and allowed just 1 earned run in 16 innings pitched. Ivan Rodriguez is 14-for-35 (.400 avg) in his career against Halladay. In 11 career starts against the Phillies, the lefty Lannan has a record of 0-8 with a 6.09 ERA and a .313 batting average against. Lannan had just 2 wins at home last season in 13 starts. Raul Ibanez is 10-for-15 (.667 avg) in his career, with a double, a triple and 2 homeruns against Lannan.

Thursday, 7:05PM. Cliff Lee (1-1, 7.84 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (1-1, 3.18 ERA). In 2 career starts against Washington, Lee is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Ivan Rodriguez is 12-for-32 (.375 avg) in his career against Lee. The righty Zimmermann has allowed 11 earned runs in 8 career innings pitched against the Phillies. In 25 career starts, Zimmermann has a 5-8 record and a 4.58 ERA.

Placido Polanco is a career .328 hitter against the Nationals in 84 games. In 7 games last season at Nationals Park, Polanco went 10-for-31 (.452 avg).

Ryan Howard is just 1-for-11 (.091 avg) in 3 road games this season. In 25 career games at Nationals Park, Howard has a .929 OPS.

Prior to this season, Shane Victorino batting first in the batting order was 138-for-511 (.270 avg). In 2011, Victorino batting first in the batting order is 14-for-34 (.412 avg).

Former Phillie Jayson Werth is batting .200 with 1 HR and 1 RBI in 9 games this season with Washington. In 28 career games at Nationals Park, Werth has a .316 average and a .983 OPS.

Ian Desmond is a career .293 hitter in 21 games against the Phillies. Desmond is 6-for-14 (.429 avg) with 2 doubles and homer and 6 RBI against Blanton.

Phillies team batting average- .334.
Nationals team batting average- .217.

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Image- AP

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