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Sunday on Peacock the Philadelphia Phillies travel south on I-95 for a game at Nationals Park against Washington. These National League Eastern Division rivals each began the season slowly. The Phillies fired manager Joe Girardi, replaced him with Rob Thomson, and have gone 8-2 in their last ten to get back in the mix for a playoff spot. The Nationals, however, have yet to find their groove. They are 4-6 in their last ten and are mired in last place in the division.
The Nationals have yet to announce their starter for this tilt. It was to be Stephen Strasburg but rumblings out of DC are that Strasburg is headed back to the IL. The Phillies will send Zach Eflin (2-4, 3.98 ERA, 51 SO) to the mound.
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To help you out, here are some statistics and suggested picks to the first two questions from this week’s game.
Question #1: How many Home Runs will the Philadelphia Phillies hit at Nationals Field against Washington?
Potential Answers: 0, 1, 2, 3+
The Philadelphia Phillies are raking this season. Led by Kyle Schwarber (16) and Bryce Harper (15), the Fightin’ Phils rank second in the National League and third in all of baseball with 81 home runs through 63 games. Only the Yankees (100) and Braves (97) have hit more home runs. Over the past 2-3 weeks, Schwarber and Harper have each been averaging one home run approximately every three games. On the road specifically, the two have combined to hit 17 bombs this season. In the last week, Rhys Hoskins has joined the party hitting four round trippers in his last seven games.
To say Washington pitchers have been generous would be an understatement. The Nationals’ hurlers have served up 86 home runs in 64 games. They lead the league in a category you just do not want to be leading. At Nationals’ Park, Washington opponents have launched 45 pitches into the cheap seats in just 32 games.
Suggested Answer: All evidence points to a multi-home run day for the Phillies. Their offense alone has produced regularly, and their opponent Sunday has obliged their respective opponents too often. To expect two home runs from the Philadelphia Phillies is not unrealistic.
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Question #2: How many Home Runs will the Washington Nationals hit Sunday at home against the Philadelphia Phillies?
Potential Answers: 0, 1, 2, 3+
After the ugly look to the answer to Question 1, Question 2 will help restore a little confidence in Nationals’ fans that all is not bleak. It is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but it is a start. The Nationals have hit 50 home runs through their first 64 games. That ranks 25th in major league baseball. The percentages improve slightly for home games. In 32 home games, Washington has hit 26 bombs.
No shock to see Juan Soto leading the Washington offense. The All-Star has smashed 13 home runs in 63 games this season. Diving a little deeper, Soto has gone yard five times in 31 games at Nationals’ Park and in the last two weeks he has gone deep four times. Josh Bell, Nelson Cruz, and Lance Thomas have also contributed more of late with Bell and Cruz each hitting two home runs in the past week and Thomas going yard four times in the last 15 games. The surprise to many has been the play of Riley Adams and his production at Nationals Park. Adams has homered three times this season. All have been at home and have come in just 12 games.
A reason to be optimistic if you are a fan of the Nationals is that Phillies’ projected starter Zach Eflin in 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA on the road this season. He has allowed seven home runs overall and two in five starts away from Citizens Bank Ballpark. The optimism ends for opposing hitters with Eflin, however. Phillies’ pitchers have served up the fewest home runs in baseball on the road this season with opponents going yard just 20 times in 27 games.
Suggested Answer: Because of Eflin’s struggles on the road, expect Soto or Cruz to take him deep. It will not be a home run bonanza, but it is not wrong to think Washington will hit at least one home run Sunday.
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