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Moyer, Phillies closing in on NL East

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:13 AM Washington (59-100) at Philadelphia (90-70), 3:55 p.m. EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies are one win away from taking advantage of another New York Mets collapse.

Philadelphia can clinch its second straight National League East title on Saturday when it hosts the Washington Nationals.

Last season, the Phillies trailed by seven games with 17 games to play before surging past the Mets to capture the division crown.

Although the collapse is not as dramatic this season, Philadelphia trailed by 3 1/2 games on September 10 and now leads New York (88-72) by two games. The Phillies can clinch the division with either a win or a Mets loss in any of the last two games. New York, which has lost five of seven, hosts the Florida Marlins.

The hottest pitcher on the Phillies' staff, Jamie Moyer (15-7, 3.78 ERA) will take the hill.

Moyer is 5-0 in his last nine starts and is 8-4 with a 2.94 ERA in his career against Washington. The 45-year-old lefthander beat Florida on Sunday, allowing one run over six innings.

Washington, which is in the midst of its first 100-loss season since 1976 when the team was in Montreal, will counter with John Lannan (9-14, 3.86).

The lefthander gave up four runs - one earned - over seven innings in a loss to the San Diego Padres on September 20.

Lannan will have to contend with Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, who hit his league-leading 48th home run in Friday's 8-4 victory. Howard has 11 home runs in September and a franchise-record 32 RBI for the month.