Opposite dugout: Recent hot streak doesn't mask Phillies' lingering issues

Manager: Ryne Sandberg (3rd season)

Record: 18-25

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: 1B Ryan Howard (.257/.307/.521 with 9 HR, 21 RBIs), SS Freddie Galvis (.319, 11 RBIs), CF Odubel Herrera (.262, 13 RBIs), RHP Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.24 ERA), RHP Aaron Harang (4-3, 1.82 ERA), RHP Jonathan Papelbon (11 saves, 1.50 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: 3-3

Pitching probables:

May 22: RHP Sean O'Sullivan vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m. MASN
May 23: LHP Cole Hamels vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 4:05 p.m., MASN
May 24: RHP Aaron Harang vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Phillies:

Just when it looked like the Phillies might be ready to finally get on with their rebuilding project and start seriously entertaining bids for star left-hander Cole Hamels, the Pfightins reeled off six straight wins in mid-May. No one expects the recent success to change the Phillies' course, but their longest win binge since taking seven straight in September 2012 proved that the guys from the City of Brotherly Love had some fight in them. They come into a weekend series at Nationals Park winners of seven of 10.

Can they sustain the success? The Phils are still decidedly old, are bereft of power outside first baseman Ryan Howard (who has nine of their 24 homers) and insist on trotting Chase Utley out to second base despite the fact that he's slashing .169/.250/.292. But, there have been some bright spots. Philadelphia recently recalled top prospect Maikel Franco to play third base, and he's homered and driven in five runs in seven games. Switch-hitting shortstop Freddie Galvis is having his best season ever, leading the club with a .319 average. Center fielder Odubel Herrera, a Rule 5 pick from the Rangers organization, is holding his own and showing some surprising extra-base power to go along with his speed. He's got nine doubles, two triples and a home run to go along with a .262 average and six stolen bases.

But, the reality is general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is on a short leash as his aging superstars, 35-year-old Howard and 36-year-old Utley, plod along and rival GMs salivate over the prospect of trading for Hamels, who's almost a lock to be dealt by the non-waiver July 31 deadline. The only mystery is how big the haul will be for Hamels. Amaro has been holding out for a mix of top prospects and decent major league talent; he might have to settle for less, cut his losses and just move on with roster reconstruction (though it's likely that Amaro won't last much longer in the land of cheesesteaks than Hamels).

While Amaro waits for the right package to come his way, he'll hope a patchwork pitching staff can limit the bleeding. So far, he's gotten mixed results from the collection of castoffs and reclamation projects that have largely populated the starting rotation.

Right-hander Sean O'Sullivan is a bonafide journeyman at 27, on his fourth major league club, but has managed to go at least five innings in all four of his starts and six innings in two - not a bad return from a guy making about $494,000, a little more than the major league minimum. O'Sullivan, who starts the opener of this three-game series on Friday night, is coming off a May 17 start against Arizona in which he pitched six scoreless innings, giving up five hits. But, he's 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in road starts this season and 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in night games in 2015, so something's got to give. Left-handed hitters are slashing .300/.364/.750 against him, while right-handers are hitting him at a .219/.292/.281 clip. He's been tough with runners in scoring position, allowing only a .150 average against (3-for-20), but has served up four homers in only 22 1/3 innings. A 90 mph fastball and 80 mph slider account for a whopping 83 percent of his pitches, though he can spot in a curveball and changeup. And, his splits show just where you can do damage against him: O'Sullivan has posted a 9.00 ERA in the first inning, an 11.25 ERA in the fourth inning, but 0.00 marks in the second, third, fifth and sixth frames. He's already made two starts against the Nats this season, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA, but Washington is slashing only .244/.311/341 against the burly righty.

Hamels, who starts Saturday, will likely bring out a gaggle of scouts to mark his progress for their respective organizations. So far in 2015, the southpaw has been a model of consistency, going at least six innings in eight of nine starts, all of them coming since he labored through five innings in the season opener. He's gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts. But, he's been prone to the home run ball. In 58 1/3 innings, Hamels has yielded eight homers (he allowed only 14 in 204 2/3 innings in 2014), but all of them have come in the first five innings. He's 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA in four starts this year on the road and 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA in four May starts. A 92 mph fastball is his bread-and-butter pitch, but Hamels also throws an 84 mph change, an 88 mph cut fastball and a 77 mph curve. As you'd expect from a 10-year veteran, he's got a long history with the Nationals. In his career, he's 15-9 with a 2.72 ERA in 34 starts against Washington, and 4-5 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 starts at Nationals Park. This season, he's faced the Nats twice, going 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA.

While all eyes are on Hamels approaching the trading deadline, don't be surprised if there's some interest in Sunday starter Aaron Harang, too. The righty had to wait until January to sign a one-year deal for $5 million, and has responded by being the Phillies' most reliable starting pitcher. He's made nine starts, going at least six innings in each of them, and his 1.82 ERA ranks fifth among NL starters. Harang is coming off a six-inning effort at Colorado on May 19 in which he yielded two runs (none earned) on three hits over six innings. The 14-year veteran throws five pitches, but an 89 mph fastball accounts for half of his offerings (he also features a slider, curve, cutter and changeup). He's 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in five road starts, and opponents have a .209 batting average against him overall in 2015. With runners in scoring positions, he's allowed a .308 average, but he doesn't give up the longball - only two homers in 59 1/3 innings.

Because he's gotten some length from his starting pitchers, manager Ryne Sandberg hasn't had to overuse his bullpen. When he's called on them, the relievers have performed pretty well, posting a collective 3.40 ERA. Hard-throwing righty Ken Giles shook off a poor spring and some back issues and has a 1.96 ERA to go along with triple-digit fastballs. Closer Jonathan Papelbon may have lost some velocity, but he has 11 saves in 11 chances, a 1.59 ERA and an 0.89 WHIP. However, he's professed his preference to continue his career with a team that has a chance to contend. When the Phillies sell off, he could be at the departure gate.