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What an opportunity to gain some NL East ground.
The Washington Nationals come into Citizens Bank Park to take on the Philadelphia Phillies for a three game series.
Washington is coming off of a nice win against Baltimore in which Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league home run. The Nationals are playing very well and only trail the Atlanta Braves by a game and a half for the division lead.
Philadelphia on the other hand was hot before losing the final two games of its last series to Boston. The Phillies were above .500 finally, only to slip back to that mark.
The bad news for Charlie Manuel and the Phillies is Kyle Kendrick will be on the mound today.
Kendrick is yet to win a game, compiling an 0-3 record with a disturbing 5.96 ERA. However he did pitch well in his last start against the Chicago Cubs, throwing six innings and only surrendering one run in a no decision.
Gio Gonzalez will oppose Kendrick for the Nationals. Gonzalez was acquired from Oakland in the offseason and has been everything Washington could ask for.
Gonzalez is 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA, well on his way to the All-Star team if he can keep the pace.
Philadelphia will have its work cut out against the tough lefty, but needs to find a way if it wants to see the north side of .500.
TV: CSN
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
For more on the Phillies, please check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.