Washington @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2010 ) Washington 0, Florida 1
Scott Olsen would like to beat his former club for more than just one reason.
Olsen takes the mound Wednesday against the Florida Marlins as the Washington Nationals try for their first road series win since May in the rubber game of a three-game set.
The Nationals are 0-14-2 in their last 16 road series since taking two of three from the New York Mets from May 10-12. However, if Washington is going to snap the streak, Olsen (3-7, 4.91 ERA) will have to pitch more like he did on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals and less like he did in his previous five starts.
Olsen allowed a run and five hits over six innings in a 4-2 win against the Cardinals but had lost his five starts before that, including a 9-5 loss to Florida on Aug. 11 in which he was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.
The left-hander did pitch six shutout innings in a victory over Florida on April 30, but he is just 1-4 in five starts the last two years against the Marlins.
The 26-year-old was 31-37 with a 4.63 ERA in four seasons with Florida before joining Washington in 2009.
Florida starter Chris Volstad (8-9, 4.61 ERA) won’t make it easy for Olsen or the Nationals. He is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against Washington this season and 4-1 in seven career outings.
Volstad was a teammate of Olsen’s in 2008 when, as a 21-year-old rookie, he went 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 15 starts. The 6-8 right-hander has been searching for that form since, but he has won his last two starts this season.
In his most recent appearance last Friday, Volstad posted a 7-1 victory over the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves. He allowed just a run and six hits in eight frames.
Washington got three-run homers from Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn and a strong performance by Jason Marquis in Monday’s 9-3 series-opening whipping, but Florida came back on Tuesday with a 1-0 decision in 10 innings.
Hanley Ramirez singled, stole second and Chad Tracy delivered a run-scoring single to left field against rookie Drew Storen to end it. The win kept Florida 7 ½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild card race and 10 ½ games back of Atlanta.
The sparse crowd at Sun Life Stadium witnessed an outstanding pitchers’ duel in the second game of the series.
Washington starter Jordan Zimmerman, making just his second start since coming off elbow surgery, faced the minimum during his six innings. The 23-year-old allowed one hit and struck out nine. Florida starter Anibal Sanchez yielded just three hits and a walk over seven fames.