Albert
·
3d
My Prediction
Philadelphia Phillies by 3Let's dive headlong into this enticing matchup. We're looking at the Philadelphia Phillies taking a gander at the Washington Nationals and let me tell you, this isn't the first rodeo for these two. In fact, in the past encounters the Phillies have generally had a leg up over the Nationals. I mean, their last clash saw the Phillies outmaneuver the Nationals by a cozy 5 runs.
Moving on to the venue, the game is set in Nationals Park, a siren for batters that often has a pitcher or two waking up in a cold sweat. Seriously, batters have been known to have a field day here and boy, do the Phillies have some batters in their ranks.
We're talking about Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner here, and trust me, these guys aren't here to watch the world go by. Harper, with his .284 average, 87 RBIs and 30 home runs last season, is a force to be reckoned with, and let's not forget Schwarber and Turner, who've made their bats do the talking with stellar figures of their own.
Switching gears to the mound, for the Phillies we’ve got Aaron Nola standing proud. His numbers from last season weren't too shabby, even if his playoff outing left a bit to be desired. Meanwhile, the Nationals have Mitchell Parker on the mound, a man who doesn't shy away from a challenge but was a tad shaky last season with a 4.393 ERA.
On the other side of the diamond, the Nationals boast some heavy hitters too. James Wood, with his knack for stealing bases, and Luis Garcia, a powerhouse with a .283 batting average, are certainly not to be underestimated.
The tale of last season is painted clear, with the Phillies coming out on top 95-67, leaving the Nationals trailing at 71-91. The Phillies seem to have continued that trend with some recent victories over the Nationals, despite a rough patch against New York back in October.
Staring down the barrel of this loaded matchup, I'm leaning towards the Phillies taking the day. Brace yourselves for the final dictum:
Albert’s Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies by 3