(My Sportsbook) - The Phillies have had their share of offensive problems this year, but they have paled in comparison to the Nationals' struggles. Philadelphia will try to hand Washington its 13th straight loss and sweep a three-game series tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia was just 7-9 in the month of August heading into this series and heading into tonight's game has a team batting average of .253 -- 12th in the National League. However, that is still 10 points better than the Nationals, who are last in the NL in hitting and are ahead of only Oakland (.241) in the majors.

Washington's inability to plate runs resulted in a 4-0 loss last night, marking the 19th time this year the Nationals have been shutout. The Nats' current 12-game slide is the franchise's longest since the Montreal Expos dropped 12 consecutive games in 1976 and is tied with the Royals for the longest skid this season.

The Nationals, who have lost seven in a row versus Philadelphia, had just as many hits last night as the Phillies, with both clubs totaling nine, but couldn't find the scoreboard. Anderson Hernandez, acquired from the Mets as the player to be named in a deal that sent Luis Ayala to New York on Sunday, had three hits in his debut, while Ronnie Belliard and Emilio Bonifacio each had two hits.

The club failed to solve Phillies pitcher Brett Myers, who posted his first complete game since 2006 and his first shutout since May 20, 2004. Greg Dobbs, who got the start at third even though Pedro Feliz (back) was activated off the disabled list prior to the game, hit a two-run homer.

Jayson Werth doubled and drove in a run, while Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Chris Coste each collected two hits for the Phillies, who have won three in a row and four of five to remain 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Mets in the NL East.

The victory was also the Phillies' fourth straight at home, with the last two wins coming on the team's current nine-game homestand.

Veteran Jamie Moyer will try to pitch the Phils to their eighth straight win against the Nats. The 45-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last 13 starts, including Friday against San Diego, as he outdueled Greg Maddux with seven shutout innings of a victory.

Moyer, who last allowed more than three runs on June 1 versus Florida, is 11-7 with a 3.64 earned run average this year. The left-hander is 2-0 in three starts against Washington this year, with the lone no-decision coming at home on April 3. He is 8-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 18 games, including 17 starts, lifetime versus the Nationals franchise.

Tim Redding will hope Philadelphia's offensive slump continues tonight, as he has been hurt by the long ball over his last two starts. Redding has allowed five homers over his last two outings -- both losses -- after giving up just two home runs in his previous 10 starts.

The 30-year-old righty gave up two homers and four runs total in six innings in a setback to Colorado on Friday, falling to 8-8 on the season with a 4.66 ERA.

Redding picked up a pair of wins early this season versus the Phils, throwing a combined 13 1/3 shutout frames, but was tagged for seven runs over four innings against them on July 30 in a loss. In his career, Redding is 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in nine starts versus Philadelphia.

Though Utley is 4-for-8 with a homer this year against Redding, the big bats of Pat Burrell, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are a combined 3-for-24 (.125) against him this season.