Phillies set to face Max Scherzer in second game of double-header

They don’t call Max Scherzer “Mad Max” for nothing.

Just over 24 hours after breaking his nose in batting practice, Max Scherzer is going to get the ball for the Washington Nationals, which is bad news for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of a double-header.

Scherzer, 34, is a three-time Cy Young Award winner. And while the Nationals season has been disappointing thus far, Scherzer once again has inserted himself into the Cy Young Award race, as he has the lowest FIP (2.27) and highest fWAR (3.8) among all pitchers in baseball.

Gabe Kapler’s squad will counter with a former Cy Young Award winner as well in Jake Arrieta, though the 33-year-old righty is at a very different stage of his career than Scherzer currently is.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Phillies-Nationals Wednesday evening tilt:

Phillies Lineup 

1. Jean Segura, shortstop
2. Bryce Harper, right field
3. Scott Kingery, center field
4. Rhys Hoskins, first base
5. Jay Bruce, left field
6. Cesar Hernandez, second base
7. Brad Miller, third base
8. Andrew Knapp, catcher
9. Jake Arrieta, pitcher

Nationals Lineup

1. Trea Turner, shortstop
2. Adam Eaton, right field
3. Anthony Rendon, third base
4. Juan Soto, left field
5. Matt Adams, first base
6. Brian Dozier, second base
7. Kurt Suzuki, catcher
8. Victor Robles, center field
9. Max Scherzer, pitcher

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Matchup

• Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA and 5.02 FIP) vs. Max Scherzer (5-5, 2.81 ERA and 2.26 FIP)
• Arrieta has a 6.75 ERA in two starts in June.
• Scherzer turned in one of the worst starts of his season against the Phillies on April 2, as he allowed seven hits and two runs in just five innings. Admittedly, that start, where he struck out nine Phillies, could only be considered disappointing by his standards.

Pregame Phillies Nuggets

1. In 87 career at-bats against the Phillies, Juan Soto has eight home runs and 22 RBIs. Bryce Harper may no longer be able to kill the Phillies, but Soto has picked up where his former teammate left off.
2. Scott Kingery is batting .363 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in June.
3. Brian Dozier has largely had a disappointing season for the Nationals in 2019, but he’s hitting .297 with three of his 11 home runs this season coming against the Phillies.

Programming Information

• 7:05 p.m. ET at Nationals Park
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• SportsRadio 94 WIP