Series Preview: Nats at Phillies, June 4th

Series Preview: Nats at Phillies, June 4th - June 6th

Attendance returns to full capacity in Philadelphia this weekend as the Phillies host the Nationals in a three-game set beginning on Friday, June 4th.

Announced last week, the city is easing nearly all of its COVID-19 related restrictions and the Phils will be able to host a full house for the first time since 2019.

The Phillies are 2-1 against the Nats this season, having won their previous series in Washington during the month of May.

With a home record of 15-10, the Phils have had success this year at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are averaging 4.2 runs per games at home, compared to 3.7 runs per game on the road, heading into Monday. The team also sports a 3.66 home ERA compared to their 4.71 mark on the road, prior to this week.

And we know that the Phillies are in the top three clubs to win the National League East. Their odds are definitely better now (+600) than they were a few months ago in February (+900). Maybe that's why the total revenue from both online and retail betting for those three months totaled $110 million! May numbers aren't out yet so that's just the sum of February-April. I always knew there was a big sports betting market in and around Pennsylvania but to see numbers like that, it's quite notable.

With this division rivalry set to spark up,> we've got a rundown of the pitching match ups as well as several key statistics from this series...

Friday, 7:05PM. Jon Lester (0-2 record, 4.91 ERA) vs. Zack Wheeler (4-2, 2.52 ERA). In 12 regular season starts facing the Phillies, Lester sports a gleaming 8-1 record with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Lester notched a 5.92 ERA in five May starts this season. JT Realmuto is 4-for-10 with a double and two home runs in his career when facing the lefty Lester. In six home starts this season, Wheeler sports a 3-0 record with a 1.88 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. The right-handed Wheeler has a 6-11 record with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 21 career starts agains Washington. Outfielder Juan Soto is 5-for-24 (.208 avg) with a HR in his career against Wheeler.

Saturday, 4:05pm. Max Scherzer (4-4, 2.34 ERA) vs. Zach Eflin (2-5, 4.10 ERA). The righty Scherzer has a 2.86 ERA in five road starts this season. In eight career starts at CBP, Scherzer has tallied a 5-1 record with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Rhys Hoskins is 0-for-17 in his career when facing the three-time Cy Young Award winning Scherzer. Eflin has a 1-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in five home starts this year. Eflin allowed five earned runs in six innings during his previous starts against the Nats this season. In 10 career starts against the Nats, Eflin has a 4-4 record with a 4.61 ERA.

Sunday, 1:05pm. Joe Ross (2-4, 5.19 ERA) vs. Vince Velasquez (2-0, 2.95 ERA). Ross, a right-hander, has a 3.94 ERA through six road starts this season. In six career appearance against the Phillies, Ross has a 2-0 record, a 3.21 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Jean Segura is 8-for-14 (.571 avg) with a walk in his career against Ross. In nine career appearances (eight starts) in his career against Washington, Velasquez has recorded a 2-2 record with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Velasquez recorded a 1.11 ERA and a .146 batting average against in five May appearances this year.

In 16 home contests this year, catcher JT Realmuto has recorded a .224 batting average with three home runs and 11 RBI. Realmuto has a .695 career OPS against the Nats in 95 games.

Phils closer Hector Neris is off to a great start and could be having a career year. Through 10 home appearances, the 31-year-old has a 0.82 ERA and a .135 batting average against. Neris has a 3.59 career ERA against the Nats in 43 games. Ryan Zimmerman is 0-for-10 in his career against Neris.

In 20 career games at CBP, Juan Soto is a .321 hitter with 10 home runs and 25 RBI.

Shortstop Trea Turner is a .268 career hitter with 14 homers in 68 games against the Phillies. Turner batted .412 in four games at CBP last year and was a .371 hitter overall in nine games against the Phils in 2020.

Heading into the weekend, the Nats and Phils were ranked 9th and 10th respectively in the National League in team ERA with Washington holding a 4.16 mark and the Phils sporting a 4.31 ERA.

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 73

Danny Ozark was the Phillies' manager from 1973-1979. During his tenure as the team's general, Ozark led Philadelphia to three straight division titles. In his playing days, Ozark was a first baseman, who was a career minor leaguer in the Dodgers system. When Ozark took over the team in 1973, the Phillies were fresh off 5 consecutive losing seasons and 3 straight last place finishes. During his first season in charge, the Phillies would again finish in last place, 20 games under .500, but as his core of young talent, like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, developed, the Phillies' win totals rose. Within 2 years, the Phillies were above .500 and in the playoff hunt until late in the season and the most successful era of Phillies history was about to begin. By 1976, the Phillies were headed to the post-season for the first time since 1950. The Phils would enjoy a 10-game lead over their nearest division rival at the midway point of the season. Despite a lul, which saw their lead d...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign. En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more. Read ahead for that interview. -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good. You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day. I would say that's the biggest difference. But I...

Velasquez shut down, Eflin on deck?

Eflin with Reading in 2015, image- Jay Floyd Following Vincent Velasquez leaving his start after just two pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday, righty prospect Zach Eflin was pulled from his start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old sports a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a .210 batting average against in 10 starts for the IronPigs this season. He could take the place of Velasquez if he is required to miss any additional time. Initial word on Velasquez after he threw two fastballs that clocked in the 86-87 MPH range (considerably slower than the 94 MPH he averages) and was swiftly pulled from his outing, is that he has a biceps strain. He'll be further evaluated in the coming days. Prior to the regular season, Eflin got a taste of competing against big leaguers when he was charged with 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one with a wild pitch in three innings of work in an intrasquad exhibition that pitted the Phils...

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