Final Score: Nationals 5, Phillies 1
The Philadelphia Phillies talked this past winter like they believed that Zach Eflin had a chance to take a major step forward in 2021. Entering Thursday, he had done that, posting a 3.38 ERA and 2.59 FIP in his first seven starts of the 2021 season, firmly placing him into the All-Star discussion.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Washington Nationals got after Eflin in the home half of the first Thursday, which doomed the Phillies chances of sweeping their division rivals, and certainly hurt the 27-year-old righty’s case to be an All-Star.