Phillies vs Nationals Preview: Deep Philly Arms vs Youthful Nats

The Phillies just took game one of this series in the most explosive way possible. Down to their final strike in the ninth inning, they unleashed a barrage of hits that turned a tie game into a 14-9 victory. Edmundo Sosa smacked a double to keep the rally alive. Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott both launched homers over the wall. The Nationals couldn't shut the door. Now Philadelphia brings that momentum into Wednesday's matchup. Aaron Nola takes the mound for the visitors. He'll need to pitch smart early.

Washington fell short yesterday despite scoring runs early. A strong start wasn't enough to hold back the Phillies' ninth-inning explosion. The Nationals need better execution in key moments if they want to steal this one. Miles Mikolas gets the ball for the home team. The veteran pitcher brings experience with a 3.65 ERA this season. He'll face a Phillies lineup that just proved it can explode at any moment. CJ Abrams' absence hurts the Nationals' defense up the middle too.

Aaron Nola's 6.39 ERA tells you this hasn't been his sharpest season. He's walked into trouble more than once. The Phillies' bullpen is loaded with talent, especially new closer Jhoan Duran. But yesterday proved the Nationals can score in bunches too. If Nola doesn't go deep into the game, Philadelphia needs its relievers sharp. The Nationals scored 9 runs in game one. They're hungry. This matchup becomes a chess match between Nola's fastball and a Nationals lineup looking for revenge.