Finally healthy, Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth heat up

After many questioned their pride, the Nationals showed up Sunday, ending a disastrous five-game losing streak with a 5-0 shutout win over the Marlins. Right-hander Max Scherzer led the way, tossing eight scoreless innings to earn his 12th win in his best start since the All-Star break.

The Nationals rebounded from a three-hit shutout loss on Saturday to plate five runs on 11 hits yesterday. Anthony Rendon picked up three hits, a walk and an RBI. And batting in the cleanup spot for the second straight game, Jayson Werth went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.

"We gotta win," Werth said on MASN's "Nats Xtra." "We gotta win every night. That's pretty much all there is to it. There's not too many games left we can lose. We're gonna have to win and the Mets are gonna have to collapse. So we'll see what happens."

It seemed like the Nats might at least gain a game back on the Mets after the Braves took a three-run lead into the ninth. But the relentless Mets rallied with two outs, tying the game on Daniel Murphy's three-run homer. New York scored three more times in the 10th to win its seventh consecutive game.

"Not too many positives lately so we'll take this win and hop on the bird and regroup for (Monday)," Werth said.

So the Nationals head to Philadelphia trailing the Mets by 9 1/2 games with just 20 games remaining. Meanwhile, the Marlins head north for a three-game set in New York with the Mets' magic number to clinch the National League East title at 11.

Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon makes his first trip back to Philadelphia since the Phillies shipped him to Washington just before the non-waiver trade deadline. Papelbon hasn't been much of a factor, mostly due to few opportunities. The right-hander is 6-for-6 in save chances and holds a 1-1 record with a 2.50 ERA in 16 appearances with Washington.

Since the move on July 28, the Nationals and Phillies have played to a near identical record with Washington slumping at 20-25 and last place-Philadelphia at 19-25.

It's been a rough season for Rendon, battling numerous injuries and two separate trips to the disabled list, which have robbed the third-year infielder of 60 games this year.

After returning from a strained left oblique on July 25, Rendon scuffled for his first 23 games, batting .200 with one homer and two RBIs. But the 2014 Silver Slugger Award winner has heated up, slashing .345/.433/.500 with a .933 OPS over his last 21 games, which includes three homers, four doubles, 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

The Nats and Phillies have matched up in four series so far this season, Rendon hasn't played in any of them. The 25-year-old has six homers and 22 RBIs over 32 games in his career against Philadelphia, both personal highs against an opponent.

Like Rendon, Werth battled timing issues at the plate for the first few weeks after returning July 28 from a fractured wrist, which cost the 13-year veteran 61 games this season. His season came alive when Nationals manager Matt Williams put Werth at the top of the order in Colorado on Aug 18.

Since then, Werth has slashed .294/.385/.520 with four homers, nine doubles, 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored over 25 games.

Werth, who won a World Series with the Phillies in 2008, is a career .270 hitter with 11 home runs and 48 RBIs against his former team.