Nationals starter Joe Ross came within one day of facing older brother Tyson Ross

According to Baseball Almanac, it has happened only 21 times. The last time was 2009 when Jered faced his brother Jeff Weaver. Phil and Joe Niekro squared off nine times in their careers.

It almost happened in this series here at Nationals Park this week.

Brother vs. brother on the starting pitching mound. The Nationals and Padres came within one day of pulling it off at Nationals Park.

Right-hander Tyson Ross pitches tonight for the Padres. Little brother Joe Ross starts for the Nationals Thursday night in the series finale.

And last week, it wasn't even supposed to be this close until the Nationals bumped Max Scherzer to Friday night against the Marlins and Joe Ross was moved up to Thursday.

Manager Matt Williams said that "would be quite the story line" if it had occurred.

"They know each other like nobody else does," Williams said. "It's fun. The fact that they've reached the goal that they had when they were both little kids, it's a good family story. We want to beat the tarnation out of Tyson, of course. They want to do the same to Joe, of course.

"But it's a good story because they both achieved the ultimate goal through, I imagine, a lot of hard work from their parents and coaches and themselves. The family should be very proud."

When 6-foot-4 205 lbs. Joe Ross has pitched for the Nationals, he has shown tremendous confidence that belies his young age of 22. Even when he gives up a run, he has had the ability to bear down and get the next out and find a way to finish the inning. That type of fortitude usually is only learned after a few seasons of in-game battles. Joe Ross has had that quality from his first start with the Nationals.

I asked Padres catcher and former Nationals prospect Derek Norris if he saw the same qualities in 28-year-old, 6-foot-5 230 lbs. older brother Tyson Ross when he catches his games.

"Without a doubt," Norris said. "I think they have a lot of similarities stuff-wise, sinker, slider guys. Power arms. One is a little bit bigger than the other, but other than that they share a lot of qualities as far as stuff and how they carry themselves from playing with Tyson this year and a little bit back in Oakland. Great teammate, great guy and even a great competitor.

"Don't know his brother too much, (but) they are very similar. It's a cool moment for them. Too bad they couldn't face off either today or tomorrow, that would've been really special. Definitely some similarities there for sure."