Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2013 ) Washington 10, Miami 3

The Miami Marlins are having trouble scoring runs and the visiting Washington Nationals touched home plate 10 times in the series opener. The Marlins will attempt to get their offense going Tuesday in the second contest of the three-game series. Miami has scored 23 runs in 13 games and will be without standout outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (shoulder) for the fifth straight game. Washington racked up 16 hits in Monday’s 10-3 victory and has outscored Miami 21-4 in four meetings this season.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman homered and had four RBIs in the opener and is 7-for-15 with seven RBIs against the Marlins this season. Zimmerman has 19 career homers against the Marlins. Miami has hit two homers and has gone nine games without one to match the club record set by the 1993 expansion squad. “I felt we had much better swings than we’ve had in the last few days,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said afterward. “Hopefully, that’s something we can grow on.”

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Washington), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (1-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Alex Sanabia (1-1, 4.91)

Haren has allowed a whopping 19 hits in nine innings over his first two starts. Cincinnati touched him up for four homers in his season debut and he gave up three runs and 10 hits in five innings while beating the Chicago White Sox. Haren hasn’t walked anyone while striking out 10. He is 1-3 with a 3.09 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins.

Sanabia was roughed up by the Atlanta Braves in his last outing when he gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings. He was splendid in his season debut when he beat the New York Mets by scattering six hits over six shutout innings. Sanabia has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). He is 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington SS Ian Desmond went 4-for-5 on Monday after going 1-for-10 in the season-opening three-game series against Miami.

2. Nationals 2B Danny Espinosa (right wrist) missed Monday’s game and may not return until Wednesday at the earliest.

3. Marlins OF Austin Kearns (irregular heartbeat) was released from the hospital Monday and isn’t expected back until later in the week.

PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Marlins 2