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Phillies look to keep playoff spot intact

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:24 AM Washington (59-99) at Philadelphia (89-70), 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a familiar scenario. While it is uncomfortable, they have to be more settled than the two teams chasing them in the National League postseason scramble.

As the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers scramble to claim a playoff spot, the Phillies look to keep their one-game lead in the NL East intact as they open a series with the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Last season, Philadelphia caught the New York Mets (88-71) in the East, winning two of three games against Washington in its final series to win the division on the last day of the regular season.

However, the Phillies have dropped two in a row and the magic number remains at three.

"We know it," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're supposed to go out there and win ballgames. The last two, we haven't. We've still got three games left and that's what we concern ourselves with."

Currently, they lead the Mets by one game in the division. The Brewers (88-71) and Mets are locked in a tie for the wild-card spot.

The Phillies send Joe Blanton (3-0, 4.45 ERA) to the mound with hopes he can turn around his fortunes against the lowly Nationals, who are trying to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1976.

The 27-year-old righthander is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in three career starts against them - including an 8.00 ERA in two outings this season.

He has yet to lose since being traded from the Oakland Athletics before the non-waiver trade deadline in July.

The Nationals counter with John Lannan (9-14, 3.86), who held the Phillies to two runs and five hits over six frames in a no-decision on September 2.

Inclement weather may cause a disturbance in this series. According to the National Weather Service, forecasts suggest there is a 90 percent chance for heavy rain on Friday and Saturday and a 40 percent chance on Sunday.

The Nationals' game against the Florida Marlins was washed out on Thursday. It will not be made up since both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.