Cole Hamels is not having the season he was hoping to have. While he is managing to earn a few victories, wins have not come easy. Hamels is 3-11 with a 4.38 ERA so far this season after having a career-best 17-win season in 2012. The three-time All-Star is currently registering the highest ERA of his career and is leading the majors in number of losses. Not exactly what the Phillies are hoping for as the face the Washington Nationals.
Hamels has not received the kind of run support that helps win games in the long run. He is averaging 3.42 runs per start. However, the left-hander is coming off a solid outing last Thursday. He allowed just one earned run off five hits while striking out eight over seven innings. The Phillies got the 6-4 win over Pittsburgh.
At home against the Nationals, Hamels has shined. He has gone 6-1 in his last seven starts against Washington, with a 3.47 ERA and 48 strikeouts. That fairs well for him in the game on Tuesday.
The Nations will send rookie Taylor Jordan to the mound to make his third career start since getting called up June 29. So far he is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA as a professional. The righty allowed two runs over five innings in his last start where Washington got the 8-5 win over Milwaukee.
One player the Nationals do not have to worry about is Ryan Howard who will be expected to miss at least six to eight weeks with a torn meniscus in his knee. The first baseman has not played since Friday but was 4 for his last 31. The Phillies have won their last four of five games and have not felt the absence of Howard too much.
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