Phillies vs. Nationals series preview: Gaining ground in the National League East
By Matthew C
Game 1: Roark vs Nola
Washington is set to send thirty-one-year-old Tanner Roark to the mound, while Philadelphia sends ace Aaron Nola to the mound to face Bryce Harper and the Nationals.
Tanner Roark (WSH): Right-hander Tanner Roark is slated to start his third start of the season against the Phillies Thursday night. The previous two starts resulted in a loss. The veteran starter isn’t having the season he hoped for. Entering game one, Roark is 3-8 with 4.27 ERA. In his last seven starts, he is 1-4 with a 5.77 ERA and a 16:26 walk/strikeout ratio.
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In nineteen career appearances against the Phillies, he has a cumulative 6-8 record and 4.34 ERA. Seventeen of those nineteen have been starts. He has 89 strikeouts in his career against Philadelphia.
Aaron Nola (PHI): Nola is certainly having an all-star worthy season so far for the Phillies. Coming into this start against the Nationals, the right-hander is 9-2 with a 2.58 ERA this season. He is just one win short of tying Max Scherzer for the National League Leader in wins with 10, and is also just one strikeout away from one hundred strikeouts this season.
In his last start against the Nationals on June 23, Nola pitched six complete innings and racked up five strikeouts. Over those six innings of work, he allowed just two runs and was able to get the win.