Cristopher Sánchez draws the assignment for Philadelphia and he’s the clear difference-maker. The lanky left-hander is coming off a six-shutout-inning, 10-strikeout opener and carries last season’s 2.50 ERA and 1.06 WHIP into this start. His heavy sinker/slider mix matches up especially well with a Washington lineup that features seven left-handed or switch hitters. Expect early ground-ball outs and a quick rhythm that lets him work into the seventh on fewer than 100 pitches. Cade Cavalli has premium stuff but still wrestles with command (15 BB in 48⅔ IP last year; 3 BB in 3⅔ in his first start). Philadelphia’s patient top six—Turner, Stott, Bohm, Harper, Schwarber, Marsh—should force deep counts and elevate Cavalli’s pitch total. The second inning rallies around a Bohm walk, Schwarber double and Marsh sac fly for the game’s first run. Cavalli steadies until the fifth, when Harper finally barrels a middle-in heater and sparks a two-run frame that chases the right-hander. Washington scratches back in the fifth on a Brady House RBI single off Sánchez, but the Philly southpaw strands two and exits after six with a 3-1 edge. The Phillies’ bullpen turns to Tim Mayza for the seventh and Brad Keller for the eighth; Keller surrenders a solo blast to Joey Wiemer that trims the lead to 3-2. In the bottom half, Daylen Lile misplays a Brandon Marsh liner into a run-scoring triple, giving closer Jhoan Duran a two-run cushion. Duran flashes triple-digits and a hammer curve to retire the side in order, sealing a crisp 4-2 Phillies victory and evening the series.

Probable Pitchers

C. Cavalli Nationals

3-4 3.88 ERA

76 K

C. Sánchez Phillies

8-2 1.54 ERA

113 K

Washington Nationals — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
James Wood	LF	.111	1	3	.200	.296
Luis García Jr.	1B	.250	0	3	.250	.300
Brady House	3B	.348	1	3	.400	.522
Daylen Lile	DH	.407	0	3	.448	.519
Joey Wiemer	RF	.588	2	4	.682	1.059
CJ Abrams	SS	.238	1	6	.304	.381
Nasim Nuñez	2B	.235	0	2	.316	.235
Jacob Young	CF	.214	1	2	.267	.500
Drew Millas	C	.182	0	2	.308	.182

Philadelphia Phillies — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Trea Turner	SS	.192	0	0	.250	.231
Dylan Moore	DH	.000	0	0	1.000	.000
Bryce Harper	1B	.120	1	3	.185	.240
Alec Bohm	3B	.095	1	4	.269	.238
Edmundo Sosa	2B	.125	0	2	.222	.125
Adolis García	RF	.318	1	3	.333	.545
Brandon Marsh	LF	.350	0	2	.409	.450
J.T. Realmuto	C	.200	1	1	.400	.400
Justin Crawford	CF	.412	0	1	.444	.471

Scoring Plays

▼ 1

Phillies challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Kyle Schwarber doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Joey Wiemer. Trea Turner scores. Kyle Schwarber out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Joey Wiemer to shortstop CJ Abrams to third baseman Brady House.

0-1

▲ 2

Drew Millas strikes out swinging. Joey Wiemer scores.

1-1

▲ 6

Drew Millas singles on a line drive to center fielder Justin Crawford. Jacob Young scores.

2-1

▲ 7

CJ Abrams homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Daylen Lile scores. Joey Wiemer scores.

5-1

▼ 7

J.T. Realmuto homers (1) on a fly ball to center field.

5-2

▼ 8

Bryce Harper homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field.

5-3

▼ 9

Edmundo Sosa singles on a line drive to left fielder James Wood. Trea Turner scores. Dylan Moore scores. Alec Bohm to 3rd. Edmundo Sosa to 2nd. Throwing error by left fielder James Wood.

5-5

▼ 10

Justin Crawford singles on a sharp ground ball to right fielder Joey Wiemer. Brandon Marsh scores. J.T. Realmuto to 2nd.

5-6

Washington Nationals — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
James WoodLF	5	0	0	0	0	1	0	.111	.496
Luis García Jr.1B	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.250	.550
Brady House3B	4	0	2	0	1	0	0	.348	.922
Daylen LileDH	5	1	2	0	0	1	0	.407	.967
Joey WiemerRF	4	2	2	0	1	2	0	.588	1.741
CJ AbramsSS	4	1	1	3	1	1	1	.238	.685
Nasim Nuñez2B	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	.235	.551
Jacob YoungCF	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	.214	.767
Drew MillasC	4	0	1	1	0	2	0	.182	.490
Totals	38	5	10	4	4	11	1

BATTING

2B: House (1, Sánchez, C).

HR: Abrams (1, 7th inning off Keller, B, 2 on, 2 out).

TB: Abrams 4; García Jr., L; House 3; Lile 2; Millas; Wiemer 2; Young.

RBI: Abrams 3 (6); Millas (2).

2-out RBI: Abrams 3; Millas.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wood; Wiemer; Abrams.

Team RISP: 2-for-10.

Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING

SB: Young (1, 2nd base off Bowlan/Realmuto).

CS: Lile (1, 2nd base by Alvarado/Realmuto).

FIELDING

E: Abrams (1, throw); Wood (1, throw).

Outfield assists: Wiemer (Schwarber at 3rd base).

DP: (Nuñez, N-Abrams-Mead).

a-Struck out for Mead in the 7th.

Philadelphia Phillies — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Trea TurnerSS	4	2	1	0	1	0	0	.192	.481
Dylan MooreDH	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000	1.000
Bryce Harper1B	5	1	1	1	0	1	1	.120	.425
Alec Bohm3B	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	.095	.507
Edmundo Sosa2B	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	.125	.347
Adolis GarcíaRF	4	0	2	0	1	0	0	.318	.878
Brandon MarshLF	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	.350	.859
J.T. RealmutoC	3	1	2	1	1	0	1	.200	.800
Justin CrawfordCF	5	0	3	1	0	1	0	.412	.915
Totals	38	6	12	6	5	4	2

BATTING

2B: Schwarber (1, Cavalli); Crawford (1, Cavalli).

HR: Realmuto (1, 7th inning off Granillo, 0 on, 0 out); Harper, B (1, 8th inning off Pérez, C, 0 on, 0 out).

TB: Crawford 4; García, Ad 2; Harper, B 4; Marsh; Realmuto 5; Schwarber 2; Sosa, E; Turner.

RBI: Crawford (1); Harper, B (3); Realmuto (1); Schwarber (4); Sosa, E 2 (2).

2-out RBI: Sosa, E 2.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Turner 4; Marsh 2; Realmuto.

GIDP: Marsh.

Team RISP: 5-for-11.

Team LOB: 13.

BASERUNNING

SB: Turner (1, 2nd base off Cavalli/Millas).

FIELDING

DP: (Sosa, E-Turner).

a-Grounded into a forceout for Stott in the 8th.

1-Ran for Schwarber in the 9th.

Washington Nationals — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Cade Cavalli	6.0	5	1	1	2	3	0	84-50	2.79
Andre Granillo	0.2	1	1	1	0	1	1	11-7	20.25
Cionel Pérez(H, 1)	0.2	2	1	1	0	0	1	21-14	6.75
Clayton Beeter(H, 1)	1.0	1	1	1	0	0	0	16-10	3.00
PJ Poulin(H, 2)	0.1	0	1	1	2	0	0	15-6	3.00
Cole Henry(L, 0-1)(BS, 1)	0.1	3	1	0	1	0	0	15-9	0.00

Philadelphia Phillies — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Cristopher Sánchez	5.1	4	1	1	4	7	0	97-60	0.79
Jonathan Bowlan	0.2	2	1	1	0	1	0	17-10	9.00
Brad Keller	1.0	3	3	3	0	1	1	22-17	9.00
Zach Pop	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12-9	6.00
José Alvarado	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8-6	15.43
Jhoan Duran(W, 1-1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6-4	2.45

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Tripp Gibson; First Base: Ryan Blakney; Second Base: Nick Mahrley; Third Base: Marvin Hudson

Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

Weather: 79°F, Cloudy

Wind: 10 mph, L To R

Washington Nationals — News

Giants rally past Nationals 11-10 behind late-inning surge

San Francisco scored 10 runs in the final two innings to stun Washington, but the Giants remain 27-41 with a -52 run differential—the worst mark in the NL West—while the Nationals' 35-33 record still holds third place in the East despite the loss.

San Francisco Giants

Washington Nationals

MLB Mailbag: Devers, Nationals, DFA Carousels, Guardians, Red Sox

Devers (.233 AVG, 0.292 xwOBA in 68 G) carries negative trade value given his underperformance; Nationals' road success (23-13 away, 12-20 home) masks structural problems despite +8 run differential.

Boston Red Sox

Cleveland Guardians

Washington Nationals

Nationals snap 0-29 skid in ninth-inning comebacks

Washington's 22-13 road record masks a 12-20 home collapse; erasing a 3-1 deficit against SF's worst reliever (Winn, 0.271 xwOBA) demonstrates clutch execution rather than sustained offensive strength in a team sitting +5 in run differential.

Milwaukee Brewers

Washington Nationals

Nationals lefty DJ Herz returns to action after Tommy John surgery

Herz threw two scoreless innings in extended spring action Friday, marking his first game appearance in two years since undergoing Tommy John surgery at the beginning of 2025. His rehab timeline remains gradual, but availability in the rotation would address Washington's depth issues (Littell 4.76 ERA, Mikolas 6.39 ERA across five combined starts).

DJ Herz

Washington Nationals

Giants, Nationals, Red Sox, Dodgers play Friday

SF (26-38, -48 run diff) won to extend to W3 while BOS (27-35, -4 run diff) snapped a streak against NYY; LAD improved to 41-23 with Freeman's walk-off. No rotation changes or injury impact from these outcomes.

San Francisco Giants

Boston Red Sox

Los Angeles Dodgers

Philadelphia Phillies — News

Phillies Release Bryse Wilson

Wilson's departure from Lehigh Valley removes a depth arm as Philadelphia sits 32-29 with a rotation anchored by Sánchez (1.46 ERA, 7-2) and Luzardo (4.30 ERA, 4-4).

Philadelphia Phillies

Sánchez Sets LHP Shutout Streak vs. Padres at 50 2/3 Innings

Sánchez's 1.48 ERA and 0.272 xwOBA through 12 starts represent elite production, but the Padres' 3-7 record over their last 10 games leaves them vulnerable to extended dominant pitching performances.

San Diego Padres

Philadelphia Phillies

Phillies prospect Aidan Miller undergoes back procedure, out 6-8 weeks

Miller is a prospect-level infielder whose absence won't directly impact Philadelphia's current roster; the Phillies (31-29, -25 run diff) are primarily concerned with depth at a position group already dealing with mid-tier organizational talent.

Philadelphia Phillies

Dodgers defeat Phillies; Yankees score 13 in single inning

LAD improved to 38-21 with an 8-2 last-10 mark and +129 run differential, while PHI fell to 30-29 at -26 run differential after the loss. The Yankees' offensive outburst against a struggling pitching opponent was routine dominance from a +98 run differential team.

Philadelphia Phillies

New York Yankees

Los Angeles Dodgers

Realmuto hit by pitch, X-rays negative

Realmuto remains available after Yamamoto's fastball in the third inning; the Phillies catcher is batting .220 with a .303 xwOBA in 8 games this season.

Philadelphia Phillies