Florida @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2010 ) Washington 3, Florida 9

Florida Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad will be looking to build on his best start of the season.

Volstad threw a complete game in last Saturday’s 7-1 rout of the Washington Nationals in Miami. The big question will be if he can deliver a repeat performance when he pitches in the opener of the Marlins’ six-game road trip in Washington on Friday night.

Volstad (2-2) completely shut down a hot Washington team that had won three in a row. He threw 114 pitches, struck out eight and walked only one. The Nationals managed four hits and caused little trouble in Volstad’s second career complete game.

If Volstad can pitch like this on a regular basis, it will make the Marlins that much tougher to beat. Fellow starters Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are off to very good starts so a consistent Volstad will make the Marlins a tough out in a short series - like the playoffs.

Johnson and Nolasco are slowly developing into two of the game’s tougher pitchers. But the 23-year-old Volstad hasn’t progressed as quickly. He went 6-4 as a rookie two years ago and struggled in a 9-13 season last year.

But he looks better this year. Opposing hitters have an anemic .215 batting average against him, and the Marlins have their fingers crossed that Volstad could be breaking through and will put an end to their three-game losing streak.

The middle of Washington’s lineup will test Volstad. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Adam Dunn, who hit third and fourth, respectively, have been hot of late and each finished with two hits in Thursday’s victory over Atlanta.

Both also have been getting more opportunities to produce runs since leadoff hitter Nyjer Morgan is getting on base more. Dunn is 6 for 11 in his career against Nationals starter Craig Stammen (1-1) and has a 16-game hitting streak against the Marlins, including four home runs.

Josh Willingham (fifth) and Ivan Rodriguez (sixth) also have come through with a mix of timely hits and power. Willingham has four homers and 16 RBIs while Rodriguez is hitting a sizzling .403 and would lead the majors if he had more plate appearances.

Stammen was matched up against Volstad last weekend and lasted just four-plus innings. Stammen has pitched well at times this season, but the Nationals need him to develop consistency.