The Nationals, meanwhile, are riding the best stretch of the Blake Butera era. They ripped off 4 straight against the Mariners and Royals before dropping the Kansas City finale 6-2, and at one point sat 3 games over .500 for the first time since the 2019 title run. James Wood has been playing at a borderline absurd level, and Dylan Crews is back up from Triple-A and contributing to the offense. This is not the 100-loss Nats anymore.
Injury-wise, both clubs are leaning on depth. Washington's rotation has been gutted — Jake Irvin is shut down, Trevor Williams is on the 60-day, DJ Herz is still rehabbing — which is why the Nats have had to live and die with their bullpen. Philly lost Adolis Garcia for the year to lat surgery and Johan Rojas to a UCL tear, on top of the day-to-day situations in the infield.
- Day-To-DayTrea Turner (SS) — Turner (wrist) will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Marlins.06/18
- Day-To-DayLiover Peguero (SS) — The Phillies reassigned Peguero to minor-league camp Sunday.06/18
- Day-To-DayAndrew Bechtold (3B) — no06/18
- Day-To-DayAndrew Walling (RP)
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini (SS)
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert (RP) — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary (C) — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILBrad Keller (RP) — Keller picked up the save Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.06/16
- 15-Day-ILKyle Backhus (RP) — Backhus (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.06/09
- OutJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (suspension) will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a right elbow UCL tear that will require an internal brace procedure.06/10
- 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia (RF) — Garcia will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right lat.06/18
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana (RP) — Susana threw from a mound this week for the first time since undergoing lat surgery last September, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.06/14
- Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP) — no05/25
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora (SP) — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Nationals manager Blake Butera said Monday that Irvin (shoulder) remains shut down from throwing, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) struck out four batters over three scoreless innings in his second rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.06/11
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) threw a simulated game at Nationals Park ahead of Tuesday's loss to the Marlins, MLB.com reports.06/05
- 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — The Nationals transferred Kranick (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/25
- 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
Stakes-wise, this is exactly the kind of series the Phillies cannot sleepwalk through. The Nationals are no longer the get-right opponent on the schedule, and a road sweep in the other direction would shove Washington above Philly in the standings before July. Butera's group has earned the right to be taken seriously. The Phillies have to remember they're supposed to be the favorite.