Washington NationalsWashington Nationals vs. Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Pick Center

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Harper, Hellickson on tap to face former teams Phillies slugger Bryce Harper and Nationals pitcher Jeremy Hellickson are slated to face their former teams when Philadelphia begins a three-game home series against Washington on Friday night.Hellickson (2-0, 5.82 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Nationals, who lost three of four at home this week to the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be opposed by Jerad Eickhoff (1-1, 2.12), who allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins on April 26 in his most recent outing.Harper, who played for Washington from 2012-18, heard boos from the Philadelphia fans during the Phillies' 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. He struck out in the eighth inning of a game in which he misplayed a fly ball in right field."I'd do the same thing," Harper said of the boos. "I mean, it's not fun to lose. It's not fun to watch when you are playing that way. I'm probably thinking the same thing walking back to the dugout." Harper is 5-for-20 (.250) with two homers in his career against Hellickson.Hellickson has pitched twice against the Phillies already this season, once in relief. The 32-year-old Iowa native made his first start of the season April 10 in Philadelphia and went six scoreless innings as the Nationals won 15-1.Hellickson pitched out of the bullpen on April 2 in Washington and gave up a long homer to Harper as the Phillies won 8-2. He is 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA in four career games (three starts) vs. the Nationals.In 2016 and part of 2017 with the Phillies, Hellickson went a combined 18-15 with a 4.09 ERA in 52 starts.He signed with the Nationals prior to the 2018 season and he went 5-3, 3.45 in 19 starts for Washington last year, missing time due to hamstring and wrist injuries.Washington won two of three games at Philadelphia from April 8-10, but since then, the Nationals are 7-12, and they have lost nine of their past 13. They haven't won more than two in a row all season. After visiting Philly, the Nationals face the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers on the road."It's going to be a huge test for us," closer Sean Doolittle told reporters after his four-out save Thursday in Washington's 2-1 win. "We are going to have to bring our 'A' game." Doolittle can understand the frustration of Nationals fans. Washington manager Dave Martinez said this week he is not big on team meetings, and Doolittle understands that."The guys in this clubhouse, we hold each other accountable," the veteran left-hander said.Nationals outfielder Juan Soto missed his second game in a row Thursday due to back spasms.Harper was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday as the Phillies beat the Tigers 7-3. His average was down to .231, but he has six homers and 20 RBIs."I just keep missing pitches," Harper told reporters. "If I can cut down on swinging on pitches out of the zone, get on base for the guys behind me, I'll be successful." Eickhoff is 1-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four lifetime starts against Washington. The Nationals have not faced him since April 16, 2017.--Field Level Media

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