On Wednesday, the Washington Nationals (13-16) face off against the Philadelphia Phillies (15-13) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games prior to their series opener against Washington. In their recent 3-1 extra-innings victory over the Chicago Cubs, the Philadelphia Phillies were led by Trea Turner, who delivered an impressive offensive performance by collecting three hits in five at-bats and driving in two of the team's runs. Throughout the season, Kyle Schwarber has emerged as the Phillies’ top power threat, blasting a team-high seven home runs. Not far behind, Bryce Harper has provided steady run production with five homers, ranking second on the squad in that category. When it comes to driving in runs, Schwarber also leads the team with 18 RBIs, making him a crucial contributor in the Phillies' lineup. On the batting average side, Bryson Stott has been the most consistent hitter for the team, boasting a .292 average so far this year. Defensively, the Phillies have performed solidly over their last five games, yielding an average of only 3.6 runs per contest. Currently, Philadelphia holds second place in the National League East, trailing the division-leading New York Mets by four and a half games. With momentum on their side, the Phillies aim to keep bouncing back as they prepare for a series at home against the Washington Nationals. As an offense, Philadelphia averages 4.4 runs per game, which highlights their ability to score consistently throughout the season.

Washington enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games prior to their series opener against Philadelphia. In a tough 19-5 defeat against the New York Mets, Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams worked 5.1 innings, surrendering five earned runs on five hits. Williams also issued two walks and managed to strike out five opposing batters before being relieved. On the offensive side this season, rookie standout James Wood has emerged as Washington’s top power hitter, leading the team with nine home runs. Nathaniel Lowe ranks just behind him, having knocked out five home runs so far in 2024. Both Wood and Lowe have proven to be productive with runners in scoring position, each tallying 20 RBIs—tying them for the team lead. Behind the plate, catcher Keibert Ruiz has posted the highest batting average among Nationals regulars, hitting an impressive .309 for the year. However, recent pitching struggles have plagued the team. Over their last five games, the Nationals’ pitching staff has given up an average of 6.8 runs per contest. Sitting seven games behind the division leader in the NL East, Washington is hoping to tighten up on the mound as they head to Philadelphia for a critical divisional series against the Phillies. To this point in the season, the Nationals’ offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game. As they continue their campaign, improving their pitching consistency will be vital if they hope to close the gap in the standings.

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