WASHINGTON -- Tuesday's rainout -- the second in consecutive nights at Nationals Park -- only exacerbated the Phillies' pitching problems.

Philadelphia began the work week needing a starter for Friday night’s series opener against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. But following Monday's and Tuesday’s rainouts at Nationals Park, the Phillies are looking for more than one starter for the weekend. They will pitch Zach Eflin in Game 1 and Jake Arrieta in the nightcap in Wednesday’s split doubleheader against the Nationals. Washington will pitch left-hander Patrick Corbin and a starter to be determined. Nats ace Max Scherzer had been scheduled to pitch Wednesday, but he broke his nose when he bunted a ball off his face Tuesday afternoon during batting practice.

Tuesday’s rainout will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Sept. 24.

If the schedule holds, Nick Pivetta could pitch Thursday and Aaron Nola could pitch Friday, meaning the Phillies would need to find starters for Saturday and Sunday.

"We see it as an opportunity for people to make an impact, an opportunity for players who have not yet established themselves as dependable options to do so,” Kapler said. “This just gives us another opportunity.”

Vince Velasquez figures to be one of those starters on Friday or Saturday. Other options include left-hander Cole Irvin or Triple-A right-hander Enyel De Los Santos. Double-A prospect Adonis Medina is not an option.

“Not right now,” Kapler said of Medina. “Anything can change.”

The Phillies’ rotation entered Tuesday 17th in the Majors in ERA (4.43), 18th in average exit velocity (88.5 mph), 20th in xFIP (4.53), 25th in FIP (4.99) and 26th in WAR (2.9). In the offseason, they pursued but did not sign free-agent left-handers Corbin and J.A. Happ because they considered their asking prices too high. Corbin, who signed with the Nationals, entered Tuesday 4-4 with a 4.11 ERA. Happ, who signed with the Yankees, is 6-3 with a 4.66 ERA.

The Phillies had no interest in left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Braves on June 7. He is expected to make his debut Friday.

“I think I have a very specific job,” Kapler said. “And my job is to take the pieces that we currently have at the Major League level, in Triple-A, in our bullpen and in our rotation and try to help them become the best they can possibly be, put them in the best possible positions to succeed. I don’t have time to experience frustration. I don’t think that frustration would serve me well or us well as a group in development.

“I think it’s pretty clear that our bullpen has been impacted greatly through injury. We have spent the majority of the season without three or four of our best relievers. And I think it’s also pretty clear that we haven’t had the five starters that we thought we’d have at the outset of the season. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. So our job is to create the best possible outcomes with the very capable and talented guys that we have in this room.”

Injury updates

• J.T. Realmuto was out of the starting lineup on Tuesday after taking a foul ball to the groin Saturday in Atlanta. He is expected to play one of the team’s two games in Wednesday’s doubleheader.

“J.T. is managing pain,” Kapler said.

• Jay Bruce is nursing tightness in his left hamstring. Bruce and Realmuto would have been available to pinch-hit Tuesday.

• Left-hander Adam Morgan is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Reading. He could be activated Friday or Saturday.

• Outfielder Adam Haseley is recovering from a strained left groin. He plans to run the bases Friday, but Kapler said he is about a week away from game activity.