Looking To Bounce Back: Nationals at Phillies Series Preview, March 30-April 1

Disappointment arose this opening weekend, as the Phillies’ bats did not, against the Texas Rangers. Rangers’ starting pitchers had no-hitters heading into the fourth inning in both Saturday and Sunday’s games.

It wasn’t just the bats, however; Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola both allowed multi-home run games, with Luzardo surrendering six runs through his six innings of work. At the very least, the Phillies won Opening Day, and the offense showed heart late in Saturday’s game.

But with a new week comes a new opportunity, and the Phillies get their first shot with an NL East opponent, the Washington Nationals.

Luckily for the Phillies, MacKenzie Gore, who took part in striking the Phillies 19 times in last season’s Opening Day game, is no longer with the Nationals. Unluckily for the Phillies, he just took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and allowed just one run in Sunday’s start against the Phils.

With that said, Gore was the key player in a trade the Nationals made this offseason for five prospects — shortstop Gavin Fien, right-handed pitcher Alejandro Rosario, first baseman/outfielder Abimelec Ortiz, infielder Devin Fitz-Gerald, and outfielder Yeremy Cabrera. Outside of that haul, the Nationals did not do much, player-wise, this offseason. They signed Zack Littell to a one-year, $7 million deal, Foster Griffin, one-year, $5.5 million deal, and Miles Mikolas to a one-year, $2.25 million deal.

The Phillies will face two of those signees, Griffin and Littell, in their three-game early week set.

Notably, the Nationals have made a large shift in their front office, hiring Ani Kilambi, a former member of the Phillies front office, as their new General Manager. Additionally, they hired Blake Butera as their manager, making him the youngest MLB manager in over five decades at the age of 33.

With their new personnel, the Nationals hold a 2-1 record, winning their opening weekend series against the Chicago Cubs. For the Phillies to avoid this result, they’ll need to improve in a few departments.

1, 2, 3… Let’s Hit

It wasn’t a great series for the Phillies’ bats, especially after the first game, but at least some guys, like Brandon Marsh or the new guy in town, Adolis Garcia, produced throughout the weekend. As for the Phillies’ top of the order? They stunk.

Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper are the first three bats the Rangers faced each day, and they went a combined 5-for-37 (.135 batting average), notching just a single home run off the bat of Schwarber. Outside of Harper’s broken bat single and Schwarber’s first inning home run, they were miserable when hitting situationally.

On Sunday, Harper stepped up to the plate down six runs, with bases loaded and no outs. He struck out on four pitches.

On Saturday, Turner had the bases loaded, as well, but with two outs. He struck out on three pitches, all swings and all whiffs. Later in the game, he had first and second with no outs, down two runs in the tenth, and he popped out to shortstop.

Schwarber batted next and got ahead 2-1, then lost his ABS challenge, and struck out looking on the next pitch, which was a ball.

The three of them each had big moments to pull through for the team, and they barely fought in the at-bat. This Nationals series needs to be an early turning point out of the .135 batting average, and into top-of-the-order production. It’s been a while since the lineup felt this deep, with the likes of Marsh and Justin Crawford turning over the order, so the three guys getting paid the big bucks cannot be the reason the offense is stale.

READ MORE ON PHILLIES OPENING WEEKEND:

Phillies’ Early Offensive Issues Already Feel Too Familiar

The Rookie

He’s finally here.

Andrew Painter will make his first regular-season MLB start on Tuesday against the Nats.

It’s been a long road for the Phillies’ top prospect. He was selected as the 13th overall pick in 2021 out of high school by the Phillies and made his way through Single-A ball in the following season. In 2023, it looked like he’d be with the Phils by the end of the year through a few Spring Training bullpen sessions and live at-bats, but he tore his UCL and needed surgery. The process and rehab were long, and when he came back in 2024, Painter wasn’t himself. But last season, Painter’s pitch mix seemed to have climbed back, and his future was once again promising.

Now, he’s in Philadelphia, and he’s here to stay.

With so much of the offseason discourse revolving around Dave Dombrowski sitting on his hands, Painter’s first start is even more highly-anticipated. The Phils will need him to adjust quickly to the Major League level because after losing Ranger Suarez to free agency and Wheeler for at least a month, their starting rotation is vulnerable.

But, Painter could be the youthful injection they’ve been looking for and needing.

Taijuan Walker Pt. 4

No one really seems to be talking about Walker, and rightfully so, with the whole “even-year Nola,” Cristopher Sanchez and Luzardo’s Cy Young chances, Zack Wheeler‘s rib rehab, and Painter’s debut, but this guy could turn the tides of the season.

Walker was solid in his first year here. He ate up 172 innings, garnered a 2.6 WAR, and won 15 games. His next season was a disaster, and I think the surrounding counties of Philadelphia would have gladly paid the rest of his contract collectively to get him off the team.

But last season, he was solid, and no one wants to give him credit for it. He tossed 123 innings to a 4.08 ERA and had a 107 ERA+.

It’s the last season of Walker’s contract with the Phillies, which means he’s going to need to pitch 150+ innings with a similar ERA to last season if he’d like another multi-year contract — obviously not from the Phils. Walker could completely reshape the season if he does so, especially in a six-man rotation that consists of two Cy Young candidates and a top-of-the-class rookie.

Walker will make his first start on Monday, March 30, against the Nationals, and it’s a perfect opportunity for him to set the tone for his season against a weaker lineup.

Game Times and Broadcasts

Monday, March 30, 6:40 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Tuesday, March 31, 6:40 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Wednesday, April 1, 1:05 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Philadelphia, 94.1 WIP

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Taijuan Walker (RHP, 2025: 5-8, 5.08 ERA) vs. Foster Griffin (LHP, Career: 1-0, 6.75 ERA)

Game 2: Andrew Painter (RHP, 2025 LHV: 5-8, 5.26 ERA) vs. Zack Littell (RHP, 10-8, 3.81 ERA)

Game 3: Cristopher Sanchez (LHP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cade Cavalli (RHP, 0-0, 4.91 ERA)

By the Numbers

• Records 
• Phillies: 1-2
• Nationals: 2-1

• Run Differential 
• Phillies: -4
• Nationals: +1

• Runs Scored Per Game 
• Phillies: 4
• Nationals: 6

• Runs Allowed Per Game 
• Phillies: 4
• Nationals: 5.7

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