Categories: Gameday

Phillies set to face Max Scherzer in second game of double-header

Max Scherzer will start for the Nationals Wednesday night. (Keith Allison)

They don’t call Max Scherzer “Mad Max” for nothing.

Just over 24 hours after breaking his nose in batting practice, Max Scherzer is going to get the ball for the Washington Nationals, which is bad news for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of a double-header.

Scherzer, 34, is a three-time Cy Young Award winner. And while the Nationals season has been disappointing thus far, Scherzer once again has inserted himself into the Cy Young Award race, as he has the lowest FIP (2.27) and highest fWAR (3.8) among all pitchers in baseball.

Gabe Kapler’s squad will counter with a former Cy Young Award winner as well in Jake Arrieta, though the 33-year-old righty is at a very different stage of his career than Scherzer currently is.

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

Phillies Lineup

Jean Segura, shortstop
Bryce Harper, right field
Scott Kingery, center field
Rhys Hoskins, first base
Jay Bruce, left field
Cesar Hernandez, second base
Brad Miller, third base
Andrew Knapp, catcher
Jake Arrieta, pitcher

Nationals Lineup

Trea Turner, shortstop
Adam Eaton, right field
Anthony Rendon, third base
Juan Soto, left field
Matt Adams, first base
Brian Dozier, second base
Kurt Suzuki, catcher
Victor Robles, center field
Max Scherzer, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA and 5.02 FIP) vs. Max Scherzer (5-5, 2.81 ERA and 2.26 FIP)
Arrieta has a 6.75 ERA in two starts in June.

Scherzer turned in one of the worst starts of his season against the Phillies on April 2, as he allowed seven hits and two runs in just five innings. Admittedly, that start, where he struck out nine Phillies, could only be considered disappointing by his standards.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

In 87 career at-bats against the Phillies, Juan Soto has eight home runs and 22 RBIs. Bryce Harper may no longer be able to kill the Phillies, but Soto has picked up where his former teammate left off.
Scott Kingery is batting .363 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in June.
Brian Dozier has largely had a disappointing season for the Nationals in 2019, but he’s hitting .297 with three of his 11 home runs this season coming against the Phillies.

Programming Information