What a ten days it’s been for the Marlins and the Nationals. Just a little more than a week ago they were two teams desperate for a win. The Marlins got those desperate wins first, in Miami, sweeping the Nats in a three-game set. They haven’t slowed since, taking two out of three from the Mets and then the Phillies to finish their nine-game homestand 7-2.
The sweep by the Marlins (12-13) came in the midst of a six-game losing streak for the Nationals (12-14), before they turned things around in Atlanta. Washington won their final two games in Atlanta before finishing their 10-game road trip by taking three out of four in New York against the Mets, going 5-5 on the trip.
Now the Marlins and Nationals meet in Washington, separated by a half game in the standings, both hovering around .500, and both within four games of the first place Mets.
The Last Time…
Just when Nationals fans thought they could forget about that three game sweep in Miami, here come the Marlins again. The Nationals scored just four runs in the three games in Miami, and despite putting up 13 runs in back-to-back games in Atlanta and then eight in the series opener in New York, there’s reason to worry about the Nationals’ offense again as they begin another series with the Marlins. The Nats scored just two runs in the final three games against the Mets, though they did come away with 1-0 wins in two of those games.
In The Other Dugout
The Nationals will once again face a Marlins team without Christian Yelich. Yelich began a rehab assignment Sunday, and is scheduled to rejoin the Marlins on Thursday in San Francisco. Ichiro Suzuki has hit well in Yelich’s absence, going 13 for 44 (.296).
Matchups To Watch
- The Nationals did not see David Phelps when they played the Marlins in Miami. Not many Nationals have faced Monday night’s Marlins starter. Yunel Escobar, from his days in the American League East, has four hits in 11 at-bats against the former Yankees pitcher.
- Giancarlo Stanton versus Stephen Strasburg is always a matchup worth watching. Stanton was 2 for 2 with a walk against Strasburg on April 25, lifting his career average to 12 for 30 (.400) against the Nationals pitcher.
Probables
Monday, 7:05pm: David Phelps (1-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (2-2, 4.88 ERA)
Tuesday, 7:05pm: Mat Latos (0-3, 6.86 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (2-2, 4.60 ERA)
Wednesday, 1:05pm: Tom Koehler (2-2, 4.67 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer (1-3, 1.26 ERA)