Game Details

• Philadelphia Phillies (2-0) vs. Washington Nationals (0-2)

• Pitching Matchup: RHP Aaron Nola (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Mitchell Parker (0-0, -.--)

• Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 1:35 p.m. EDT | Game: #3 | Home Game: # 3

• Location: Nationals Park | Washington, D.C.

Editor’s Note: Today’s Game Notes are free for all Nats Report subscribers! Enjoy!

Game storylines and notes

This afternoon, the Washington Nationals will wrap up their first series at home for the 2025 season as they face the Philadelphia Phillies. After today, the Nationals will travel north to Toronto as they face the Blue Jays, the Nationals’ first road trip of the season. The Nationals will look to avoid being swept by the Phillies and will face right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola, and will send left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker to the mound.

Game Recap
LAST GAME RECAP

The Washington Nationals dropped a tough one yesterday afternoon to the Philadelphia Phillies after disastrous sixth and seventh innings from the bullpen. Jake Irvin had a solid start, but the offense could not capitalize in time before things got out of reach en route to another loss.

Jake Irvin had a high bar set for him by MacKenzie Gore on Thursday, but he did not disappoint. While he only went 5.0 innings and allowed seven hits, he held Philly to just two runs, both of which came from a Bryson Stott home run in the fourth inning. Irvin kept the ball mostly on the ground, as he induced seven groundouts and just three flyouts. [Read our full Game Recap]

Game Preview

Up next.

The Washington Nationals will finish the weekend homestand today before heading to Toronto to face the Blue Jays tomorrow.

Here is the projected starting pitchers for the series*

Monday, March 31, 2025

RHP Michael Soroka (0-0, -.--) TBA (0-0, -.--)

Michael Soroka is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against Toronto.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

RHP Trevor Williams (0-0, -.--) vs. TBA (0-0, -.--)

Trevor Williams will make his season debut after re-signing with the Nationals in the offseason. This will be his second career start in Canada and his first since 2017.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

LHP MacKenzie Gore (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA (0-0, -.--)

MacKenzie Gore will make his second start of the season after he struck out a career-high 13 in 6.0 scoreless innings on Opening Day.

*Please note that this is subject to change

Keibert Ruiz Shines Early with Back-to-Back Homers 

Keibert Ruiz has kicked off the baseball season in spectacular fashion, launching home runs in his first two games. His most recent feat came against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he not only demonstrated his switch-hitting skills but also contributed to a 2-0 lead for the Nationals. With another game against the Phillies on the horizon, fans are buzzing with anticipation to see if Ruiz can solidify his reputation as a "Phillies killer." His ability to hit from both sides of the plate has made him an early-season standout.

Ruiz smashed a home run on Opening Day and followed it up with another in Saturday’s 11-6 loss to the Phillies at Nationals Park, becoming just the second player in team history (2005-present) to homer in the first two games of a season. Trea Turner previously achieved the same in 2021.

The New Kids on the Block

Recent additions Amed Rosario and Nathaniel Lowe in yesterday's matchup put on a stellar performance. Rosario, making his debut for the Washington Nationals, went 3-for-5 at the plate, including a solo home run—his first as a National. He became the 16th player in franchise history to homer in his Nationals debut and the fourth to do so in the past four years.

The most recent Washington National to accomplish this was Eddie Rosario on March 28, 2024. Amed Rosario also joined an elite group as the eighth player to record three hits in his Nationals debut. Andres Chaparro was the last to achieve this milestone, doing so on August 13, 2024, against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Meanwhile, Nathaniel Lowe also marked his first game as a National with a bang, hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning. Lowe finished the game 2-for-5 with 3 RBI, contributing significantly to the team's effort.

Starting off on the right foot

Through the first two games of the season, Washington Nationals starting pitchers have been impressive, surrendering only two earned runs across 11.0 innings for a 1.64 ERA. Among National League teams, they rank second in fewest runs allowed by starters, tying for third in Major League Baseball. Only the Colorado Rockies' starting staff, who have yet to allow a run, lead the pack.

MacKenzie Gore set the tone on Opening Day, throwing 6.0 scoreless innings while striking out a franchise-record (Montreal/Washington) 13 batters. Jake Irvin kept the momentum going in the following game, yielding just two runs over 5.0 innings yesterday.

On the mound for the Washington Nationals
Mitchell Parker

Left-handed Mitchell Parker will make his 2025 season debut this afternoon as he faces the Philadelphia Phillies.

Mitchell Parker has emerged as a notable talent for the Washington Nationals, showcasing his skills in spring training and throughout his rookie season. During Grapefruit League play, Parker went 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA across four games, including two starts. He struck out eight batters while issuing four walks.

Parker made his Major League debut on April 15, 2024, at Dodger Stadium, kicking off a rookie campaign that saw him take the mound for 29 starts. He quickly established himself among the league’s top first-year players, finishing 5th in strikeouts (133) and tying for 8th in wins (7) among rookies. For pitchers with at least 90.0 innings pitched, he ranked 8th in walks per 9.0 innings (2.56) and 9th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.09). Parker was dominant at home, leading all Major League rookies with a stellar 2.65 ERA (26 ER/88.1 IP).

His early career highlights include posting the third-lowest ERA (3.06) through his first 12 starts of any Nationals pitcher since 2005, trailing only Tanner Roark (2.87) and Stephen Strasburg (2.91). Parker’s debut against the Dodgers was a sign of things to come, as he earned the win with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and striking out 4. With a strong foundation laid in his rookie year, Parker looks poised to be a key contributor to the Nationals’ rotation moving forward.


vs. Phillies.

Parker has a career ERA of 27.00 against the Phillies. In his sole appearance last year against the Phillies on August 15, Parker only pitched three innings, giving up nine runs on 10 hits and facing 21 batters. Parker could only strike out six batters, but gave up two home runs and issued two walks.

Today’s Starting Lineups 

*Lineups are subject to change after publication of Game Notes

WASHINGTON NATIONALS BY THE NUMBERS

The Washington Nationals have the following records.

• Day: 0-2 | Night: 0-0 | Extra Innings: 0-1

• A.L. Teams: 0-0 | N.L. Teams: 0-2 | N.L. East: 0-2

• Month Record: 0-2 | Current Streak: L2

• vs. LHSP: 0-1 | vs. RHSP: 0-1

• Series Opener: 0-1 | Series Opener at Home: 0- 1 | By Series: 0-0-0

• Walk-off Wins: 0 | Comeback Wins: 0

• White Script Nationals: 0-1 | White Pullover: | City Connect: 0-1 | Blue Jersey: 0-0 | Road Gray: 0-0 | 42: 0-0

Opposition Research 
Philadelphia Phillies

If the Philadelphia Phillies secure a victory today, they will achieve a rare feat accomplished only eight times in the franchise's history: sweeping an opening series of at least three games to kick off the season. The most recent occurrence was in 2021, when they swept the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies have previously opened a season with a road series sweep on four occasions: in 2001 against the Florida Marlins (3-0), in 1994 against the Colorado Rockies (3-0), in 1993 against the Houston Astros (3-0), and in 1905 against the Brooklyn Superbas (3-0).

With yesterday's win, Philadelphia has already clinched a series win on the road to start the season, marking the first time they’ve done so since 2010. That year, they won two out of three games against the Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C.

ON THE MOUND FOR THE NAME OF THE TEAM
Aaron Nola

As the 2025 season approaches, Aaron Nola has solidified his place among the Philadelphia Phillies' all-time pitching greats. He ranks 4th in strikeouts (1,779), 6th in starts (268), 7th in wins (104) and winning percentage (.568), and 10th in innings pitched (1,621.1).

Nola has been a dominant force against the Washington Nationals since 2022. In his last nine starts against them, he boasts a 4-1 record with an impressive 1.70 ERA (10 ER, 53.0 IP) and 44 strikeouts. He's held their offense to a meager .223/.279/.311 slash line, delivering five quality starts and allowing three or fewer earned runs in all nine outings.

Since joining the Phillies in 2018, Nola has been a model of consistency and value. He and Shane Bieber are the only two pitchers to accumulate more than 20.0 fWAR (Nola: 28.6; Bieber: 21.5) while playing for a single team during that span. Among all pitchers, Nola's 28.6 fWAR ranks 3rd, trailing only Zack Wheeler (33.6) and Gerrit Cole (30.6).

This spring, Nola showcased his readiness for the upcoming season. In four Grapefruit League starts this year, he posted a stellar 1.84 ERA (3 ER, 14.2 IP) with 17 strikeouts and six walks.

Nola's pitch arsenal consists of a knuckle curve (32.9%), 4-seam fastball (27.8%), sinker (20.4%), changeup (9.6%), and cutter (9.2%). Against NL East opponents, he has a 41-40 record with a 3.59 ERA (295 ER, 738.2 IP) in 123 starts.