Harper, Phillies head to D.C. after rough weekend in Atlanta

On April 2, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper returned to Washington D.C. – the place he called home for the first seven years of his career – for the first time since signing a 13-year contract with the division-rival Phillies. What transpired was what will go down as one of the most memorable games of the 2019 season, independent of whether the Phillies or Nationals ultimately reach the postseason.

After striking out in his first two at-bats, Harper drove in three runs in his next three at-bats, capping the evening off with a 458-foot home run in an 8-2 Phillies win. Even though it was only the fourth game of the Phillies season, Harper already had three home runs and appeared to be beginning an MVP-caliber season. That hasn’t proven to be the case.

Monday evening, Harper and the Phillies will return to the nation’s capital looking to recapture some of the magic from that evening.

Harper isn’t having a bad season by any means, though his .246 batting average and 12 home runs have left something to be desired.

The Phillies as a whole find themselves in a similar situation – they are 39-32 and if the season ended today, they would win one of the National League’s two Wild Card spots. However, they lost 15-1 Sunday to the Atlanta Braves, who they now trail by two-and-a-half games in the National League East.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this evening’s Phillies-Nationals tilt:

Phillies Lineup

1. Jean Segura, shortstop
2. Bryce Harper, right field
3. Scott Kingery, third base
4. Rhys Hoskins, first base
5. Sean Rodriguez, left field
6. Roman Quinn, center field
7. Cesar Hernandez, second base
8. Andrew Knapp, catcher
9. Jake Arrieta, pitcher

Opposing Lineup

1. Adam Eaton, right field
2. Trea Turner, shortstop
3. Anthony Rendon, third base
4. Juan Soto, left field
5. Matt Adams, first base
6. Brian Dozier, second base
7. Yan Gomes, catcher
8. Patrick Corbin, pitcher
9. Victor Robles, center field

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA and 5.02 FIP) vs. Patrick Corbin (5-5, 4.11 ERA and 3.88 FIP)
• Arrieta pitched against the Nationals in a 10-8 loss on May 4 at Citizens Bank Park. The 33-year-old scattered five hits over six innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned.
• In that same game, Corbin got the ball for the Nationals, surrendering six hits and three runs over six innings.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

1. In 36 plate appearances against the Nationals in 2019, Bryce Harper has nine hits – two of which are home runs – and seven RBIs. Harper has also walked eight times against his former team, the most he has against any opponent in 2019.
2. Juan Soto has slashed .310/.408/.679 with eight home runs, 21 RBIs, 14 walks and a 1.087 OPS in 98 career plate appearances against the Phillies,
3. Scott Kingery is hitting .362 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in June.
4. Brian Dozier, who is hitting just .228 in 2019, has four hits in nine at-bats against Jake Arrieta in 2019.

Programming Information

• Nationals Park
• 7:05 p.m. ET
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• SportsRadio 94 WIP

MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION

1. ‘The Phillies Got A Gem:’ Former Coaches Laud First-Round Pick Bryson Stott
2. Steering Clear Of Charlie Morton Appears To Have Been A Major Mistake By Phillies
3. Hector Neris Has Used His Elite Pitch To Become The Rock Of The Phillies Bullpen
4. He’s Not A Lefty, But Marcus Stroman Remains An Intriguing Trade Candidate For The Phillies
5. Flashback: The Time Gabe Kapler Had To Be Pinch-Run For In The Middle Of A Home Run