Nationals-Phillies Preview

One week ago, things weren't looking all that great for the Philadelphia Phillies. They were mired in a four-game losing streak and their once-comfortable division lead was shrinking.

A series against the Washington Nationals helped them get back on track.

The Phillies look to move closer to their second straight NL East title and win for the sixth time in eight games Tuesday night when they open another series against the Nationals.

Philadelphia (82-60) didn't look much like a team vying for a playoff spot after suffering a four-game sweep at Houston last weekend. Following last Monday's 4-3 loss to the Astros, manager Charlie Manuel criticized his team for its lackluster play.

The Phillies have responded.

Philadelphia took two of three at Washington last week and then won three of four over the New York Mets to regain a sense of control in the East.

The Phillies swept a doubleheader from the Mets on Sunday with a 5-4 victory in the first game and a 1-0 win in the nightcap.

Chase Utley drove in the lone run in the second game and has turned it around at the plate. The All-Star second baseman is batting .308 with two homers and five RBIs in the last seven games after hitting .095 with no RBIs in his previous six. He is batting .340 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 14 games against the Nationals this season.

Utley provided all the offense Pedro Martinez needed. The three-time Cy Young award winner allowed six hits in eight innings, improving to 5-0 with a 2.87 ERA in seven starts since signing with Philadelphia

Martinez is looking like he will lead the Phillies' playoff rotation -- a role Tuesday's scheduled starter Cliff Lee (6-2, 3.11) looked like he would assume before starting to struggle.

After posting a 0.68 ERA in winning his first five starts for Philadelphia, Lee has recorded a 9.60 ERA in his last three.

The left-hander got back in the win column Wednesday against Washington but wasn't overly impressive, giving up five runs and 10 hits in seven innings in a 6-5 victory.

Washington (50-93) is coming off a rain-shortened 7-2 win over Florida on Sunday. The Nationals have won three of four after losing 10 of 11.

"We know we are not going anywhere in the standings, but the guys are playing with intensity, they are playing hard and I appreciate that," manager Jim Riggleman said. "Just some great individual efforts."

Ryan Zimmerman is one of Washington's top offensive players with 29 homers and 94 RBIs, but he hasn't had much luck against Philadelphia lately. The All-Star third baseman is batting .071 with one RBI in his last seven games against the Phillies after hitting .375 with four homers and 10 RBIs in the first eight meetings of the year.

Garrett Mock (3-7, 5.75) takes the ball for the Nationals after opposing Lee and Philadelphia last week, when he didn't receive a decision after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings.

The Nationals have lost each of Mock's last three starts with the right-hander recording a 7.71 ERA. Mock had gone 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his previous five outings.