Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
By most measures, Gio Gonzalez is having the best season of his career and enters this game with a 2.68 ERA and 191 2/3 innings. Gonzalez only pitched 177 1/3 innings last year and depending on whether Gio starts Sunday’s game which is the regular season finale, he could also surpass his career high of 202 innings in 2011.
Gonzalez is certainly in contention for a Top 5 finish in the Cy Young race along with teammates Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, and Gio said he wants to finish strong. At this point, Gio appears to be a lock for the third spot in the Nationals post-season rotation which would have him pitching Game #3 in Chicago.
First things first, Gio has to help the Nationals finish up this season. For the Phillies, righty Jake Thompason gets another start. Michael Taylor got that inside-the-park-home-run off of him the last time they met.
Bryce Harper is back in the lineup after 45 days on the DL. He is expected to play 4 to 6 innings tonight.
Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium: Citizens Bank Park
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, CSN – Philadelphia, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change (without notice):
BAH GAWD THAT'S BRYCE HARPER'S MUSIC. pic.twitter.com/h26oUgvruZ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 26, 2017
