Washington Nationals: 5 storylines to watch as Phillies make final trip to DC
By Drew Douglas
The Washington Nationals begin a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight; here are five storylines to keep an eye on.
The Washington Nationals are coming off of a series sweep against the Miami Marlins, which featured two offensive explosions. After scoring just five runs in three games against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Nats put up 17 runs in three games in Miami.
Daniel Murphy, a National League MVP candidate, had been struggling a bit coming into this series, but rediscovered his swing in a big way. He received a scheduled day off in the series finale, but went 5-for-9 with two homers in the first two games.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are coming off of a series loss to the reeling New York Mets. The Mets are only 3-7 in their last ten games, but still managed to win two of three against the Phillies and scored 18 runs in three games.
September should be an interesting month for the Phillies, as it typically is for teams in the rebuilding process. Many of their productive players from early in the season have been traded to contenders, and prospects are getting their first opportunities in the big leagues.
The Nats need to take advantage of playing against the rebuilding Phillies, as the Mets did. With the Nats’ magic number down to six, they can at least come close to clinching the division with a series win.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five key storylines for what should be an exciting four-game set between two NL East foes.