Miami @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2013 ) Miami 0, Washington 2
The 2013 season started off as expected as the Washington Nationals’ young stars carried the day and the Miami Marlins’ light-hitting lineup struggled. After a day to rest from the opener, the Nationals will attempt to move to 2-0 for the second straight year on Wednesday when they continue their three-game series at home against the Marlins. Bryce Harper tagged Ricky Nolasco for two solo homers and Stephen Strasburg retired 19 straight batters at one point against Miami, which managed only three hits against Washington’s ace. The Nationals also had to be encouraged with new closer Rafael Soriano, who pitched a flawless inning for a team that blew 17 save chances a season ago.
Giancarlo Stanton was the only Marlin to record an extra-base hit on Monday, wasting an otherwise solid outing from Nolasco. Miami mounted only one scoring threat against Strasburg and will hope to get a better performance from the bottom half of the batting order. The Marlins No. 5 through No. 9 spots went hitless in 14 at-bats, with only Donovan Solano reaching base via a walk.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Kevin Slowey (2012 in Triple A: 3-3, 5.14 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (21-8, 2.89)
Slowey missed a large part of last season due to a stress fracture in his rib cage after he was acquired by the Cleveland Indians. The ex-Minnesota Twin signed a minor-league contract with Miami in January, won the fifth spot in late March after posting a 2.63 ERA over 13 2/3 spring innings. He moved up to the No. 2 spot when Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez were placed on the 15-day disabled list and the team opted to keep left-hander Wade LeBlanc in the No. 3 spot.
Gonzalez led the majors with 21 wins in his first season with Washington after coming over from Oakland. While the Florida native flirted with danger by walking 76 hitters (sixth-most in the National League) and benefited from the second-highest run-support average in the NL (5.38) last season, he helped himself out by recording 207 strikeouts – ninth-most in the majors. Gonzalez has yet to face Miami in his career, but both Placido Polanco (4-for-13) and Juan Pierre (3-for-10) have fared well against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez generated 107 strikeouts with his fastball last season, the fifth-most in the league.
2. The Marlins announced 20-year-old RHP Jose Fernandez – who has never competed above the Class A level – will make his major-league debut on April 7 against the New York Mets.
3. Slowey’s last victory came against Oakland on Sept. 18, 2010.
PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Marlins 1