The Philadelphia Phillies have already clinched the National League East title and a first-round bye into the NL Division Series. However, Rob Thompson’s squad still have plenty to play for heading into their regular-season-ending three-game road series against the Washington Nationals beginning on Friday night.
Philadelphia (94-65) is still in a battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64) for the best record in the league and home-field advantage should the two meet up in the NL Championship Series. And considering the Phillies have the best home record in baseball (54-27), that could prove to be key.
“We always play better at home and a lot of it has to do with our fan base, the support we get, the energy that it gives our guys,” said Thompson, who guided the Phillies to the World Series two year ago. “Anything can happen in the playoffs, but this is the best team since I’ve been here. … They are tough and resilient. They prepare, they compete every day. I trust them.”
Thompson will throw his three top starters — right-handers Zack Wheeler (16-7, 2.56 ERA) and Aaron Nola (13-8, 3.52) and left-hander Ranger Suarez (12-7, 3.15) — in the series against the Nationals, “but we can pull them back a little bit,” according to the manager.
Suarez, who will start the Friday opener, is 7-1 with a 3.64 ERA in 15 career appearances (eight starts) against Washington, including a perfect 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA in six appearances (four starts) at Nationals Park. He won his only previous start this season against the Nationals on April 6 in Washington, 5-2, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks over six innings while striking out four.
Right-hander Trevor Williams (5-1, 2.19) will make his 13th start of the season for the Nationals. Williams is 2-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts) against Philadelphia. He picked up a no-decision on the road in his latest start against the Phillies on May 19, allowing three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Williams missed nearly half the season due to a flexor strain in his pitching arm before returning Sept. 20 to throw five innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He gave up three hits and no walks while striking out seven on the road.
The Nationals (69-90) bring a four-game losing streak into the series after losing 7-4 to the Royals on Thursday afternoon. Kansas City pinch hitter Adam Frazier hit a two-run single to break a 4-4 tie in the ninth off All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan as the Royals completed a three-game sweep.
It was the ninth loss in the last 10 games for Washington, which enters play Friday 25 games behind the Phillies and in fourth place in the NL East. Despite the rough finish to the season, manager Dave Martinez was upbeat about what he has seen from his rebuilding squad.
“It’s not for a lack of effort,” Martinez said. “These guys are really pushing. They’re trying. They’re working hard and they care. They’re just as upset about losing a game today as they were two months ago. Nobody’s giving up. I know sometimes they’re pressing. They want to win. … We’ve just got to make it happen.”
