By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (74-70) and ace RHP Aaron Nola will look to salvage the series finale opposite RHP Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals (73-72) Wednesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Shortstop J.P. Crawford will make his first start since June 19 and his fourth appearance overall since last week's recall, recovered from a fractured left hand.
The Phillies lost both games of their single-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, falling 3-1 and 7-6. Manager Gabe Kapler used 47 players combined between the two contests. With the losses, the club failed to capture its first winning season against the Nationals since 2014. Over their last 33 games, the Phillies are 11-22 and are 6-13 combined against the New York Mets (3-5), Miami Marlins (1-2) and Nationals (2-6).
Number of Phillies players used in last four games —
– 22
– 18
– 23
– 24— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) September 12, 2018
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Washington Nationals (73-72) | Philadelphia Phillies (74-70) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Stephen Strasburg | RHP | Aaron Nola | ||
| (7-7, 4.04 ERA) | (16-4, 2.29 ERA) | ||||
RHP Stephen Strasburg, Age: 30
- 2018 vs. PHI: 1-0, 6.30 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 10 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 10 SO, 1.600 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 11-2, 2.50 ERA, 23 G, 23 GS, 147 2/3 IP, 105 H, 48 R, 41 ER, 12 HR, 30 BB, 179 SO, 0.914 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 4-0, 1.62 ERA, 9 G, 9 GS, 55 2/3 IP, 37 H, 14 R, 10 ER, 2 HR, 17 BB, 71 SO, 0.970 WHIP
Strasburg has surrendered seven singles and five extra-base hits over 44 batters faced and 10 innings against the Phillies this season. The right-hander is 13-3 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.861 WHIP through 29 career regular season starts in September/October.
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. WSN: 3-0, 1.26 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 28 2/3 IP, 18 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, 8 BB, 30 SO, 0.907 WHIP
- Career vs. WSN: 4-4, 3.38 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 82 2/3 IP, 79 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 7 HR, 21 BB, 95 SO, 1.210 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 23-13, 3.08 ERA, 43 G, 43 GS, 274 1/3 IP, 229 H, 101 R, 94 ER, 34 HR, 69 BB, 317 SO, 1.086 WHIP
Nola needs just four more strikeouts to become the sixth-ever Phillies pitcher to strike out 200 batters in a single season before age 26, joining Brett Myers (208, 2005), Grover Cleveland Alexander (227, 1911), Gus Weyhing (202, 1892), Kid Gleason (222, 1890) and Charlie Ferguson (212, 1886). Nola would also become the first Phillies pitcher to accomplish such feat overall since Cole Hamels (202) and Cliff Lee (222) both did so in 2013.
Starting Lineups:
| Washington Nationals (73-72) | Philadelphia Phillies (74-70) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | RF | Adam Eaton | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | SS | Trea Turner | R | 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 3 | CF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 4 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R | 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 5 | LF | Juan Soto | L | 5 | 3B | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 6 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | C | Matt Wieters | S | 7 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
| 8 | 2B | Wilmer Difo | S | 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 9 | P | Stephen Strasburg | R | 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Wednesday's Postseason Race Matchups:
- Los Angeles Dodgers (RHP Ross Stripling) at Cincinnati Reds (RHP Anthony DeSclafani), 12:35 p.m.
- Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Jameson Taillon) at St. Louis Cardinals (RHP Daniel Poncedeleon), 1:15 p.m.
- Atlanta Braves (RHP Anibal Sanchez) at San Francisco Giants (LHP Derek Holland), 3:45 p.m.
- Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Chase Anderson) at Chicago Cubs (RHP Kyle Hendricks), 8:05 p.m.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Patrick Corbin) at Colorado Rockies (RHP Jon Gray), 8:40 p.m.
More changes in Phillies' minor league system: Four minor-league hitting instructors have been let go. Director of player development Joe Jordan resigned last week.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) September 12, 2018
Franco has a sore right shoulder and neck after falling over the railing last night. No concussion. He said he watched the replay only once afterwards and has no plans to watch it again. Feels fortunate he wasn't hurt worse. #Phillies
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 12, 2018
- Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has just one hit in 14 plate appearances against Nola this season, striking out eight times while walking once (click to expand).
What's Next:
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018: Off-day
Friday, Sept. 14, 2018: vs. Miami Marlins, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-10, 4.72 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (9-7, 4.42 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
