Phillies Open Series In D.C. Tonight Behind Velasquez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Phillies are in Washington D.C. and tonight they will open a three-game series with the Nationals.

The Phillies are 9-10 on the season after taking two out of three from the Brewers over the weekend in Milwaukee. That has them alone in third place in National League East, 5 1/2 games behind the first place Nationals, who bring a 14-4 record into tonight's series opener.

RHP Vince Velasquez will start on the mound tonight for the Phillies. He is 2-1 in three starts with a 0.93 ERA. His last start was his poorest of the season as he allowed five runs (two earned) in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Mets. This will be his first career appearance against Washington.

The Nationals will counter on the mound with RHP Max Scherzer. He is 2-1 in four starts this year with a 4.32 ERA. Scherzer struggled in his last start, allowing five earned runs in five innings in a loss to the Marlins. But he has dominated the Phillies in his career, going 5-1 in seven starts
against Philadelphia with a 2.11 ERA. One of those wins came earlier this month at Citizens Bank Park on April 16th. Scherzer allowed just a run in seven innings of work in an 8-1 Washington victory.

Here is the Phillies line-up tonight against Scherzer:

1. CF Odubel Herrera
2. SS Andres Blanco
3. 3B Maikel Franco
4. 1B Ryan Howard
5. C Cameron Rupp
6. LF David Lough
7. 2B Cesar Hernandez
8. P Vince Velasquez
9. RF Peter Bourjos

KYW's Matt Leon spoke with Stephen Gross of the Allentown Morning Call about what he has seen out of the Phillies 19 games into the season.