NATS GAME NIGHT, GAME 48*: Nats @ Phils

The Washington Nationals continue their seven-day, six-game road trip in the City of Brotherly Love, as they face the Phightin' Philadelphia Phillies at 7:05 pm from Citizen's Bank Park.

Hopefully umpire Crew Chief Lanny Vanover and his squad were not assigned to this series as well.

The Phillies own just one home series win this season, courtesy of the Nationals at the end of April.

It should be a slugfest, as statistically (other than wins), these two teams are fairly even so far this season, with the Phillies starters the equivalent of the Nats bullpen.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS (13-33-1, 5th in NL East--13 games behind; three-game loss streak)

Guzman - 6
Johnson - 3
Zimmerman - 5
Dunn - 9
Willingham - 7
Bard - 2
Hernandez - 4
Maxwell - 8
Detwiler - 1

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (25-20, 2nd in NL East--.5 game behind; one-game loss streak)

Rollins - 6
Victorino - 8
Utley - 2
Howard - 3
Ibanez - 7
Werth - 9
Feliz - 5
Ruiz - 2
Happ - 1

STARTING PITCHERS

PHI: J.A. Happ (27.2 IP, 2-0, 2.60 ERA, 21 Ks, 9 BBs)
WAS: Ross Detwiler (11.0 IP, 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 10 Ks, 4 BBs)

WEATHER

Scattered clouds and mild. First pitch: 75F

NOTES

The Nats bought the contract of RP Mike MacDougal from Syracuse. MacDougal is a former All-Star closer with Kansas City that has bounced around for a couple of years, most recently with the Chicago White Sox. He's a tall, lanky right-hander that throws hard, strikes out a lot and walks almost as many.

The team returned C Luke Montz to Harrisburg to make room for MacDougal. Montz was active one game and did not make an appearance.

Also, Washington expected to activate Jesus Flores from the 15-day DL for tonight's game, but will not, according to Nats Journal. No explanation has been given thus far.