The Washington Nationals return home to close out the regular season with a stretch of eight games in seven days that will essentially determine whether they host the National League wild card game or travel to it.
After Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins, the Nationals (85-69) find themselves one percentage point ahead of the streaking Milwaukee Brewers (86-70) for the top wild-card spot.
Milwaukee has won 15 of its last 17 games and would host the wild-card game if the teams end up tied based on winning the season series from Washington 4-2.
The fading Cubs are four games back, and the Mets are 4 1/2 games behind, meaning Washington needs to go 4-4 this week to ensure a berth in the wild-card game even if the Cubs win out.
The Phillies (79-75), who open a five-game series in Washington on Monday night, are six games out with eight games remaining after being routed by the Cleveland Indians 10-1 Sunday night.
"There's no turning back now," Strickland told MASN.com. "This is it, and this is critical. Every game's critical. This one was. It's a tough loss, for sure. As a reliever mindset in general, you have to forget and figure out what to get better on. Have to move forward and get ready for tomorrow. There's no more off-days. We've got to be ready to go."
Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin (13-7, 3.10 ERA) pitches the series opener against right-hander Zack Eflin (9-12, 4.00).
Corbin has won three of his last four outings. In his last start, he allowed two unearned runs on five hits over six innings of a win against the Cardinals, striking out 11 and walking four.
"I felt really good all night. I had good fastball command on both sides of the plate, and my slider was really good," Corbin told reporters. "They came out and they're pretty aggressive, so I was able to use that pitch a little bit more."
Corbin is 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this season, and the Nationals have won all three games. In eight career starts against the Phillies, he is 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA.
Philadelphia's playoff hopes took a hit in Sunday night's loss. The Indians broke open a close game with a six-run seventh inning to take two of three from the Phillies.
