• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Undefeated Nationals look to make it four straight

Apr 3, 2008 - 4:21 PM Washington (3-0) at Philadelphia (0-2) 1:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - An afterthought in many of the preseason predictions, the Washington Nationals are quickly making a statement in the National League East.

The Nationals will be looking to open the season 4-0 when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a three-game series.

Most people assumed Washington - with its lack of starting pitching and inexperience all around the diamond - would finish near the bottom in the NL East, behind division powers Atlanta, Philadelphia and the New York Mets.

But after a stirring comeback win on Opening Night in their new stadium against the Atlanta and a pair of victories over the Phillies, the Nationals are beginning to open some eyes.

In fact, this is the first time since 1951 that a Washington-based baseball franchise has opened 3-0.

The pitching has been particularly impressive, as a patchwork rotation that saw last year's ace - John Patterson - get released in spring training, has throw together some strong performances.

Odalis Perez tossed five strong innings on Opening Night and journeyman Tim Redding pitched seven scoreless frames in Wednesday's 1-0 win.

The Phillies, notoriously slow starters who won the division on the last day of the 2007 season, have yet to get their offense in gear.

Sluggers Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell each went hitless on Wednesday and are a combined 6-for-26 over the first two games.

The Nationals will send Jason Bergmann to the mound on Thursday. The righthander went 6-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 21 starts last season and owns an 0-2 career record against Philadelphia.

The Phillies will counter with the ageless Jamie Moyer, who will be kicking off his 22nd major league season. The 45-year-old lefthander went 14-12 with a 5.01 ERA in 33 starts last season in his first full campaign with Philadelphia.