Series Preview - Nationals at Phillies: April 7th to April 9th

Friday 3:05, Saturday 7:05 and Sunday 1:35
Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

Nationals 2-1, Tied for 1st Place in the N.L. East, 1 game ahed of three teams
Phillies 1-2, Tied for 3rd Place in the N.L. East, 1 game behind the Mets and Nationals

Nationals Probables:  Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00), Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.57), Joe Ross (0-0, 0.00)
Phillies Probables:  Vince Velasquez (0-0, 0.00), Aaron Nola (0-0, 0.00), Jeremy Hellickson (1-0, 1.80)

At the Ballpark:  It's the Phillies opening weekend!  All fans today will receive a Phillies knit hat and fans 15 and older will receive a Phillies Opening Night t-shirt tomorrow night.  On Sunday, all kids will receive a Phillies hooded sweatshirt.

Phillies Leaders
Average:  Odubel Herrera - .400
Runs:  Three tied with - 2
Home Runs:  Daniel Nava - 2
RBIs:  Daniel Nava - 3
Stolen Bases:  Odubel Herrera - 1

Wins:  Jeremy Hellickson - 1
ERA:  Jeremy Hellickson - 1.80
Strikeouts:  Jerad Eickhoff - 6
Saves:  Jeanmer Gomez - 1

Nationals Leaders
Average:  Matt Wieters - .500
Runs:  Adam Eaton - 4
Home Runs:  Ryan Zimmerman - 2
RBIs:  Bryce Harper - 3
Stolen Bases:  Trea Turner - 2

Wins:  Tanner Roark and Stephen Strasburg - 1
ERA:  Gio Gonzalez - 0.00
Strikeouts:  Gio Gonzalez - 7
Saves:  Blake Treinen - 2

1982 Topps #779

1982 Topps #285

1982 Topps Appreciation:  For today's series preview post, I'm featuring two players who both wound up their impressive 16-year major league careers in 1982.

Because of his long career, Grant Jackson has had a number of his Topps cards featured in these series preview posts throughout the years.  I wrote this about him back in 2012:

Jackson began his 18-year career with six seasons with the Phillies.  Initially a relief pitcher, Jackson developed into a semi-reliable starting pitcher for the Phils in the late 1960s.  Between 1965 and 1970, he went 23-43 with a 3.99 ERA.  Jackson was traded to the Orioles following the 1970 season in the deal that brought Roger Freed to Philly.  Not counting his 1 game appearance in 1982, Jackson spent five full seasons with the Pirates between 1977 and 1981.  He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles in the 1979 World Series.

Jackson spent parts of the 1982 season with the Royals and Pirates, appearing in 21 games and pitching to a 5.31 ERA.  He was released by the Pirates following the season, ending his 16-year career in the majors.

Sparky Lyle came to the Phillies on September 13, 1980 in a trade with the Rangers for a player to be named later.  (Kevin Saucier was shipped to the Rangers following the season.)  He helped the Phillies down the stretch with an impressive 1.93 ERA over 10 games but was ineligible for the postseason.  Lyle spent the entire 1981 season with the Phillies, appearing in 48 games and serving as one of the more reliable relievers for the team.

He pitched in 34 more games for the Phillies in 1982 before being being sold to the White Sox on August 21st.  Like Jackson, he was released that offseason, also ending his 16-year career.