Phillies

The Phillies have been treading water around .500 which is exactly where this team should be.  I've said several times I really like the Phillies OD roster talent - especially now with Spencer Howard pitching instead of Matt Moore, but it's a paper thin team and any injury basically forces a AAAA player into the mix. And guess what? They have some injuries! Shocking I know. Didi Gregorious (out until ???) and Jean Segura (back in a week or so) are currently sitting out. Other guys are hurt (or "hurt") but they are other AAAA players. 

The Phillies hitting is perfectly acceptable. Realmuto and Bryce and Cutch hit, Odubel and Segura and a healthy Didi and Herrera and Superstar Brad Miller back them up and whoever is not one of these guys usually sucks terribly. Right now Cutch is hot, Superstar and Odubel are not. In the pen they've settled down in a way with a bunch of mediocre arms but no failing ones. It's a deep bench that allows you to try to find who's hot today which isn't ideal but gives you more of a chance then having no good relievers

Probables

Wheeler vs Scherzer : Max is coming back from a minor injury and will be a bit of a question mark, but so far the speed bumps have been just that - minor slow downs then back up to speed. I don't expect an issue but a non-dominant start is probably the best expectation. "Ace" Wheeler is the best the Phillies have pitching like an A- Max without the homers. This should be a sweet match-up so expect one or both of these guys to get blown up.

Velasquez vs Fedde : It was the best of times - Fedde came back to dominate the Mets over 7 innings. He didn't quite have the control (4 walks) but only allowed two hits and more importantly didn't allow a homer for his third straight start.  Ideally he'd K a few more - hard to see the BABIP or HR rates staying this low for a season, but he's been good even taking that into account and seems to have the inside track now for the last spot if the team ever has to decide.  It was the worst of times - perennial AAAA pitcher Velasquez had a nice run in May.  Unfortunately April and June count too. He's gettting hit and he's wild and give up a homer or two... really there isn't much positive to say.  He fills up space in the Phillies ill-conceived 3-man + 2 ? rotation to start the year.  Matt Moore... ahahahahaha. 

The second game is in their favor so winning tonight would be big. It would also draw the Nats into a tie with the Phillies and either ahead of the Braves or just percentage points behind. Overall the plan is to win this 6 game set so even a split here would be fine though.  It's a marathon you know.