Doug Fister and Kyle Kendrick are at opposite ends of the MLB spectrum right now. Fister is enjoying success after a rough start while Kendrick is seeing things go from back to worse. The Washington Nationals are winning. The Philadelphia Phillies have lost five straight games. Can the team and Kendrick turn things around as they face surging Fister and their National League East rivals?
The Nationals are preparing the sweep the Phillies as Fister looks to win his fourth start. The pitcher had a rough start to the year after missing almost all of April. He then gave up seven runs in four innings against the Oakland Athletics in his debut. Things were looking bad until he then won three straight while putting together a 2.13 ERA and striking out 21 in 25 innings. The reason for the win streak? The Nationals have given him an average of 11.3 runs in his last three games. Plenty of top pitchers in the league would kill for that number.
Meanwhile the Phillies barely have their heads above water right now. The team has been outscored 35-13 while going 7 for 42 with runners in scoring position. They are in the midst of their worst losing streak of the season. They are a National League-worst 9-19 since May 5 which does not fare well against the Nationals who have won their last four of five by a 34-10 margin.
Kendrick will take the mound while he is 1-10 with a 4.84 ERA in his last 18 starts. He has one victory which came against Colorado on May 26. He recently allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings to the New York Mets. He is trying to break out of a 10-start road losing streak while going 0-7 with a 5.49 ERA. Against the Nationals, he has a 9.88 ERA .
