Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2014 ) Miami 0, Washington 5

As Washington's Ryan Zimmerman suffers from an arthritic right shoulder, Anthony Rendon has been the cure for the Nationals. The second-year player tries to continue his hot start while Washington looks for its 16th victory in the last 21 games against Miami when it hosts the Marlins on Wednesday. Rendon is 11-for-27 with a homer and eight RBIs to begin the season and has started at third base the last two games in place of Zimmerman, who could see time at first base if his situation persists.

Rendon had two hits and drove in three runs in the Nationals' series-opening 5-0 victory Tuesday and also made an exceptional defensive play in the seventh inning to help halt a Miami rally. The Marlins, who scored the fewest runs in the majors by a wide margin in 2013, led baseball with 42 through Sunday's games before they were shut down by Gio Gonzalez and four relievers. Miami's Jacob Turner will miss his scheduled start after straining his pitching shoulder during practice and will be replaced by Brad Hand, who will face Tanner Roark - fresh off a strong first start that was moved up one day when Jordan Zimmermann came down the the flu.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Brad Hand (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (1-0, 3.00)

Hand allowed one hit in five scoreless innings out of the bullpen this season, last working three frames in an 8-2 victory over San Diego on Friday. The 24-year-old Chaska, Minn., native is 1-10 with a 4.88 ERA in 15 career starts and has a 4.23 ERA in 22 lifetime appearances. Hand is 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in five outings (three starts) against the Nationals' roster, which is hitting .378 against him in 37 at-bats, with Zimmerman being 5-for-6 with four doubles and Adam LaRoche recording a homer.

Roark, who is battling with Jordan Taylor for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, began his audition early when he allowed two runs, six hits, walked three and struck out five in six innings of Washington's 8-2 victory over the Mets in New York on Thursday. The 27-year-old Wilmington, Ill., native was 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 14 appearances (five starts) in his rookie season of 2013. Roark is 1-0 and hasn't yielded a run in three appearances covering nine innings against the Marlins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Zimmerman said he expects to return to the lineup and play third base Wednesday, with Rendon moving to second base.

2. Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton has 12 RBIs and recorded at least one in every game this season prior to Tuesday.

3. Marlins RHP Steve Cishek has converted 31 consecutive save chances.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Marlins 2