Phillies expecting pitching boost for Nationals series

The Philadelphia Phillies are fresh off a 2-1 series win over the New York Mets. While stars such as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber continue to lead the Phillies, the team could certainly use more overall depth. The ball club is expecting to receive a pitching boost ahead of their series against the Washington Nationals, according to MLB.com.

Left-handed pitcher Kyle Backhus has been out due to left elbow inflammation since April. After recently making his fifth injury rehab appearance, the southpaw is expected to join the Phillies before their game on Monday against the Nationals in Washington.

Backhus, 28, has pitched to a career 4.63 ERA across 42 total big league outings. He turned in a 4.62 ERA in 2025 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. So far in 2026 with the Phillies, Backhus has pitched to a 4.66 ERA across 10 appearances.

While his numbers do not exactly jump off the page, adding left-handed relief depth to the bullpen is never a bad idea. He could certainly make a significant impact with the Phillies for the remainder of the ’26 campaign.

Overall, Philadelphia holds a 42-35 record, which is good for second place in the National League East standings. The Phillies are 6.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the division at the moment.

The Nationals have upset expectations this year, so the upcoming four-game series in Washington will be difficult for the Phillies. Nevertheless, Philadelphia is set to enter the series with momentum.

First pitch for Monday night’s game between the NL East rivals is scheduled for 6:45 PM EST.