Game 134 lineups: Nats at Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - Gio Gonzalez will take the mound for the finale of a three-game series between Nationals and Phillies. The Nats are going for a sweep of the Phillies and their fourth straight victory. But which version of the erratic left-hander will show up at Citizens Bank Park?

In his last outing against the Mets on Aug. 24 at Citi Field, Gonzalez pitched a gem, spinning seven innings of seven-hit, one-run ball without walking a batter. But he took the loss in a 3-0 defeat, falling to 7-11 with a 4.35 ERA for the season.

In his past 15 starts, Gonzalez is 1-9 with a 6.25 ERA, and opponents are slashing .306/.382/.485 off him. The first two months of the season, when the southpaw was 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in his first 11 starts, are a distant memory.

The Phillies, however, could be the cure to what ails Gonzalez, at least if history is to be belived. In 25 career starts versus Philadelphia, he is 11-7 with a 2.69 ERA, including a 6-4 mark with a 2.79 ERA in 14 starts at Citizens Bank Park.

It'll be hotter than blazes this afternoon, with heat indicies topping 100 degrees, so Gonzalez may feel more comfortable in weather much like that of his home in South Florida.

Current Phillies are slashing just .159/.250/.192 off Gonzalez, with Nick Williams' 1-for-2 log the best average against him. Of the regulars, Odúbel Herrera is 5-for-20 (.250) with an RBI and César Hernández is 8-for-24 (.235) with a homer and two RBIs.

Right-hander Jake Arrieta will start for the Phillies, and he's worked to a 2.45 ERA in two no-decisions against the Nationals in 2018. In 11 lifetime starts against Washington, Arrieta is 1-1 with a 4.89 ERA.

Mark Reynolds is a career .409 hitter (9-for-22) off Arrieta with a homer and four RBIs. Michael A. Taylor is 2-for-6, Anthony Rendon is 5-for-16 and Trea Turner is 3-for-10.

Taylor gets the start in center field tonight. With Bryce Harper on the bench at first pitch, Juan Soto will hold down the cleanup slot.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 91 degrees, winds southwest 9 mph

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Matt Wieters
2B Wilmer Difo
CF Michael A. Taylor
LHP Gio Gonzalez

PHILLIES
CF Roman Quinn
LF Rhys Hoskins
2B César Hernández
C Wilson Ramos
1B Carlos Santana
RF José Bautista
3B Maikel Franco
SS Scott Kingery
RHP Jake Arrieta