Jake Thompson On The Hill As Phillies Host Nationals Tonight

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- After a 2-3 road trip through Chicago and New York, the Phillies are back home tonight to open a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phils wrapped up that trip with a 5-1 win over the Mets yesterday. Catcher A.J. Ellis, in his first game as a Phillie after being acquired in the Carlos Ruiz trade with Los Angeles, had the big hit in this one as he snapped a 1-1 tie in the 7th with a two-run double. The Phils would score four runs in the inning and never look back.

Jake Thompson will get the start on the mound for the Phillies tonight. The rookie right-hander has struggled since his promotion from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 1-3 in four starts with a 9.78 ERA. He lost his last start to the White Sox, allowing seven runs in five innings of work.

The Nationals will counter on the mound with right-hander Tanner Roark. He is 13-7 this season with a 2.99 ERA and Roark has been especially good against the Phillies in 2016. In three starts against Philadelphia already this season, Roark has gone 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA.

Here is the lineup for the Phillies tonight against Roark:

1. Cesar Hernandez 2B
2. Odubel Herrera CF
3. Maikel Franco 3B
4. Tommy Joseph 1B
5. Aaron Altherr RF
6. Cameron Rupp C
7. Jimmy Paredes LF
8. Freddy Galvis SS
9. Jake Thompson P

The Phillies have gone 4-8 against the Nationals so far this season, getting outscored 60-31 in the process.

KYW's Matt Leon spoke with Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com about Thompson and the development of Cesar Hernandez and Aaron Altherr.