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Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins Preview and Predictions 07-26-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 25th July 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Marlins Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/25/2018
The Washington Nationals haven't had as much good news as they would've liked this season, as the National League East preseason favorites find themselves a game under .500 and staring up at a pair of upstarts in the division. Their current troubles aside, the Nationals (50-51) can take solace in knowing that Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for Thursday's opener of a four-game series versus the host Miami Marlins (44-59).
Strasburg boasts a sterling 7-0 mark with a stingy 1.13 ERA in his last seven starts against the Marlins. Bryce Harper, who has done his fair share of tormenting Miami throughout his career, returned from a one-game absence in the starting lineup due to a stomach ailment and belted his 25th homer in Wednesday's 7-3 victory for Washington. While the Nationals have won just five of their last 13 contests, the Marlins began an 8-4 stretch with a resounding 10-2 triumph over Washington on July 8. J.T. Realmuto, who had a career-high five hits in that contest, belted a two-run homer and drove in four in Tuesday afternoon's 9-3 romp over Atlanta.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 3.90 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Dan Straily (4-4, 4.02)
Strasburg's first start since June 8 was a rocky one, as the 30-year-old allowed six runs over 4 2/3 innings of an 8-5 setback against Atlanta. The performance, however, is best remembered for Strasburg and fellow hurler Max Scherzer having words in the dugout before taking their conversation down the tunnel. Strasburg surrendered eights hits - five of which were doubles - in the loss and will look to channel the form he exhibited in his last encounter with Miami, against which he scattered three hits and struck out eight across five scoreless innings of a 5-2 win on May 27.
Straily improved to 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last four starts after yielding one run on four hits over seven innings of a 6-5 win at Tampa Bay last Friday. Included in that four-start stretch for the 29-year-old was a strong performance at Washington, during which he permitted two runs on five hits in six frames of a no-decision. Straily has kept the ball in the park in each of his last three outings after being taken deep seven times in his previous five trips to the mound.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami 3B-RF Brian Anderson, who had three hits and three runs scored on Tuesday, is 7-for-24 with a homer and five RBIs against Washington this season.
2. Five of Washington rookie LF Juan Soto's seven hits against the Marlins have been doubles.
3. The Marlins are just 13-21 against their fellow NL East representatives.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Marlins 3
MLB Previews 25th July 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Marlins Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/25/2018
The Washington Nationals haven't had as much good news as they would've liked this season, as the National League East preseason favorites find themselves a game under .500 and staring up at a pair of upstarts in the division. Their current troubles aside, the Nationals (50-51) can take solace in knowing that Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for Thursday's opener of a four-game series versus the host Miami Marlins (44-59).
Strasburg boasts a sterling 7-0 mark with a stingy 1.13 ERA in his last seven starts against the Marlins. Bryce Harper, who has done his fair share of tormenting Miami throughout his career, returned from a one-game absence in the starting lineup due to a stomach ailment and belted his 25th homer in Wednesday's 7-3 victory for Washington. While the Nationals have won just five of their last 13 contests, the Marlins began an 8-4 stretch with a resounding 10-2 triumph over Washington on July 8. J.T. Realmuto, who had a career-high five hits in that contest, belted a two-run homer and drove in four in Tuesday afternoon's 9-3 romp over Atlanta.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 3.90 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Dan Straily (4-4, 4.02)
Strasburg's first start since June 8 was a rocky one, as the 30-year-old allowed six runs over 4 2/3 innings of an 8-5 setback against Atlanta. The performance, however, is best remembered for Strasburg and fellow hurler Max Scherzer having words in the dugout before taking their conversation down the tunnel. Strasburg surrendered eights hits - five of which were doubles - in the loss and will look to channel the form he exhibited in his last encounter with Miami, against which he scattered three hits and struck out eight across five scoreless innings of a 5-2 win on May 27.
Straily improved to 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last four starts after yielding one run on four hits over seven innings of a 6-5 win at Tampa Bay last Friday. Included in that four-start stretch for the 29-year-old was a strong performance at Washington, during which he permitted two runs on five hits in six frames of a no-decision. Straily has kept the ball in the park in each of his last three outings after being taken deep seven times in his previous five trips to the mound.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami 3B-RF Brian Anderson, who had three hits and three runs scored on Tuesday, is 7-for-24 with a homer and five RBIs against Washington this season.
2. Five of Washington rookie LF Juan Soto's seven hits against the Marlins have been doubles.
3. The Marlins are just 13-21 against their fellow NL East representatives.
PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Marlins 3
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