Florida @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2010 ) Washington 0, Florida 1
The Florida Marlins thought their luck was changing for the better thanks to Saturday's comeback victory. But a battle with Stephen Strasburg has a good chance of dispelling that notion.
The Marlins hope to build on an emotional win on Tuesday when they begin a three-game road series against Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.
Florida was on the verge of halting a five-game losing streak Saturday before closer Leo Nunez squandered a one-run lead against the St. Louis Cardinals by allowing two runs in the top of the ninth. But Dan Uggla led off the bottom half with a home run and Hanley Ramirez delivered a walk-off double in the 10th, giving the Marlins a 5-4 triumph and ending their skid.
However, Sunday's game with the Cardinals was rained out, preventing Florida from feeding off its come-from-behind victory, and now it has the unenviable task of facing one of baseball's most promising pitching prospects in Strasburg.
But the 22-year-old rookie phenom may not be at his best as he will be pitching for the first time since July 21. Strasburg has missed a total of four starts due to stiffness in his right shoulder, an ailment that landed him on the disabled list.
As a result, Strasburg is not expected to throw more than 90 pitches or work beyond the sixth inning.
Prior to his injury, the right-hander posted a 2.04 ERA in winning three straight starts. In his last outing, Strasburg allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings of an 8-5 win at the Cincinnati Reds.
In his only previous meeting with Florida on July 10, Strasburg limited the Marlins to four hits in six innings en route to a 4-0 victory.
Strasburg has excelled at Nationals Park, going 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts. He has struck out 46 while walking only four in 31 innings.
Squaring off against Strasburg will be Anibal Sanchez, who has recorded just one win in his last seven outings. The lone victory, however, was a one-hit shutout at the San Francisco Giants on July 29.
Sanchez lasted just 4 1/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in his most recent start, surrendering four runs and seven hits in a 7-2 loss on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old owns a 3-0 record and 2.97 ERA in 10 career games against the Nationals, but is 0-0 with a 4.00 ERA at Washington. On May 9, Sanchez yielded two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 frames, settling for a no-decision in a 3-2 loss at Nationals Park.
Sanchez is 5-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 starts on the road this season.
Florida, which has won three of its last four away from home, is beginning a 10-game road trip. It is hoping to get back the services of first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who has missed two games with a tight right hamstring, and center fielder Cody Ross, who also has been sidelined for two contests with a stiff neck.
The Nationals, who have won four of their last six at home, are coming off a 3-4 road trip that ended Sunday with an 8-3 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael Morse and Justin Maxwell hit back-to-back homers in the second inning and Jason Marquis made his first start since April 18, surrendering five runs - two earned - in four frames.
Marquis had been sidelined due to bone chips in his right elbow.