After Tuesday's brutal loss, the Phillies are a season-high 4½ games behind the Braves in the NL East. They also trail three teams in the wild-card race. Needless to say, the team needs to salvage the finale of this three-game set with the Washington Nationals.
Here's what you need to know to prep yourself for tonight's game.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals
Jake Arrieta (9-9, 3.37 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (7-11, 4.35 ERA)
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Streaming on the NBC Sports app and NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com
Phillies Pre-Game Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET
They need to salvage something
The Phillies have already lost another series, dropping the first two games against the Nats this week. The Phils have won just one of their last 10 series.
MLB
Unsustainable after all
The Phillies have blown lead after lead since the All-Star break. And they've been unable to hang on in one-run games the way they did so often in the first half.
At the break, the Phillies were 20-8 in one-run games. Since the break, they've lost all five of their one-run games.
Which Gio shows?
Gio Gonzalez had a 2.27 ERA in his first 12 starts this season. He has a 6.49 ERA in his last 14.
His last time out, Gonzalez allowed just one run in seven innings to the Mets. The start before, he gave up eight runs to the Marlins.
He's really struggled with control lately, walking at least four batters in six of his last 11 starts.
No active Phillie has good numbers against Gonzalez. Collectively, current Phils have hit .174 vs. him with one home run in 181 plate appearances.
Arrieta on the hill
The Phillies have lost each of Jake Arrieta's last four starts but he's pitched well in two of them. He enters 9-9 with a 3.37 ERA in 25 starts.
Arrieta has been much better this season at Citizens Bank Park, where he has a 2.88 ERA and .223 opponents' batting average compared to 3.81 and .266, respectively, on the road.