Nationals host Phillies: 3 things to watch for

The first-place Atlanta Braves have gotten a lot of attention this season in the National League East.

But the Philadelphia Phillies, who begin a three-game series Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park (weather permitting), have also managed to stick around in the race with nearly the first half of the season complete.

The Phillies (39-33) are just three games back of the Braves while the Nationals (40-33), who beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Thursday, are 3 ½ games behind the surprising Braves.

Here are three things to watch for this weekend when the Phillies make their second trip to Washington this season:

Where will Harper bat?

The Nationals are now 9-1 this year when outfielder Bryce Harper bats in the leadoff spot.

“You just made up my mind,” manager Dave Martinez, with a smile, told The Washington Times after Thursday’s game when he heard that statistic.

Martinez moved Harper to that spot Thursday and he got on base three times and had a sacrifice fly.

Harper, batting .213, saw 25 pitches in four at-bats Thursday. That is far above his season and career average of right under 4.0 per at-bat.

The new lineup also saw rookie sensation Juan Soto bat cleanup for the first time in the majors and he had a two-run double in the eighth to drive in Harper and Trea Turner for the game-winning hit.

Soto is hitting .326 with six homers and 16 RBI in his first 28 games in the majors.

The left-handed hitter began the season with low Single-A Hagerstown. He was promoted to high Single-A Potomac and then played eight games for the Double-A Harrisburg before heading to Washington one month and two days ago.

“Nobody does this,” an amazed Steve Phillips, the former Mets general manager and current radio personality, told 106.7 The Fan on Friday. “I love his approach at the plate. He is locked in.”

Can young pitchers step up?

With starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson on the disabled list, the Nationals will use two young starters this weekend against the Phillies.

Erick Fedde (0-2, 5.63) will start Saturday at 4:05 p.m. against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.55) in a battle of 2014 first-round draft picks. Washington rookie Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66) will start Sunday at 8:07 p.m. against Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.08), a former Nationals minor leaguer.

Fedde made three starts last season for the Nationals and Saturday will be his third this season.

Rodriguez is 0-0 with an ERA of 4.66 in two games, with one start, this season for Washington.

Right-hander Tanner Roark (3-7, 3.87) will start for the Nationals in the first game against Zach Eflin (4-2, 3.43) on Friday.

Are the Phillies for real?

In a scheduling quirk this will be the second visit to Washington this season for the Phillies while the Nationals have yet to play at Philadelphia.

Washington will play three times in Philly starting June 28.

The Phillies lost two of three at Nationals Park in early May as Gio Gonzalez and closer Sean Doolittle got the wins while Roark got the loss in the middle game of the series.

Philadelphia has won seven of its last 10 games while the Nationals have lost six of their last 10.