PHILADELPHIA - Hello from Citizens Bank Park, where the Nationals and Phillies wrap up their season series tonight. Many thanks to Byron Kerr for covering the last two games; he's back home tonight hosting "Nats Xtra" on MASN, so I made the drive to Philadelphia to cover this final road game of the regular season.
The Nationals have been very good away from home this year, with a 50-30 road record that is best in the National League. And, get this: If the Nats win tonight, they'd become the first NL team to win 51 road games in a season since 2004, when the Cardinals won 52. That's kind of impressive when you stop to think about it.
Dusty Baker isn't backing off tonight. He's got all his regulars in the lineup except for Matt Wieters, with Pedro Severino instead behind the plate. Thus, Bryce Harper is playing back-to-back days, something he said he'd do if his body felt up to it today. And he's again batting second, behind Trea Turner though this time in front of Daniel Murphy (who didn't play either of the last two nights).
Tanner Roark gets his final start of the regular season, and possibly his final appearance for 13 days until his spot comes up for Game 4 of the National League Division Series. It's Roark's fourth start against the Phillies this season, but his first since May 13, so he's facing a different lineup at this point.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 186/869, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly clear, 81 degrees, wind 7 mph right field to left field
NATIONALS (95-62)
SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Jayson Werth
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Pedro Severino
RHP Tanner Roark
PHILLIES (63-95)
2B César Hernández
SS Freddy Galvis
RF Nick Williams
1B Rhys Hoskins
LF Aaron Altherr
CF Odúbel Herrera
C Jorge Alfaro
3B J.P. Crawford
RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
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