Game 5: Nats at Phillies
The Nationals are going with an opener tonight in PJ Poulin, while Andrew Painter makes his debut in what is being called a "must-win game" in Philly
PHILADELPHIA – It’s March 31 in the City of Brotherly Love, and one of the local sports talk stations today is asking fans if tonight’s game is must-win for the Phillies. Yes, this is where we are only four games into the 2026 season, with the Nationals flying high at 3-1 and the Phillies in panic mode at 1-3.
Tonight’s game at Citizens Bank Park presents a complete contrast in pitching approaches. The Nationals, for only the second time in club history, are using an opener. Left-hander PJ Poulin will start the game, most likely just to face the Phillies’ big lefty boppers at the top of the lineup, before handing it over to someone else. Blake Butera is being coy about how things will play out after that, but the suspicion is that Zack Littell will be the so-called “bulk guy” who throws anywhere from 3-5 innings based on his pitch count before the back end of the bullpen takes over. Maybe that’s not the plan, but it feels like the most-likely scenario.
The Phillies, on the other hand, send one of the sport’s top pitching prospects to the mound for his long-awaited major-league debut. Andrew Painter was supposed to be a big part of their rotation several years ago, but injuries derailed the right-hander’s career. He’s finally healthy and finally ready to pitch at this level. Suffice it to say, there will be a lot of eyeballs – and a lot of pressure – on Painter tonight from a fan base on the edge only four games into the season.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 6:40 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings), MLB Network (out-of-market)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 79 degrees, wind 14 mph out to center
NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
3B Jorbit Vivas
C Keibert Ruiz
DH José Tena
CF Joey Wiemer
2B Nasim Nuñez
LHP PJ Poulin
PHILLIES
SS Trea Turner
DH Kyle Schwarber
1B Bryce Harper
3B Alec Bohm
2B Bryson Stott
RF Adolis García
LF Brandon Marsh
C J.T. Realmuto
CF Justin Crawford
RHP Andrew Painter
I'm no hitting coach, but James Wood's front shoulder is flying open before the pitcher even lets go of the ball.
Well, that worked about as well as the Nats could've hoped. Poulin retired the top of the order on nine pitches, striking out Schwarber with a sweeper. Littell has begun warming in the pen to take over.