Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2014 ) Washington 6, Miami 7

The Miami Marlins look to build off the emotion of a stirring comeback when they host the Washington Nationals in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday. The Marlins rallied from six runs down and scored four times in the ninth inning to shock the National League East-leading Nationals 7-6 on Monday, notching their fifth straight victory. Washington saw its lead in the NL East shrink to a half-game over Atlanta after dropping three of five and Miami is six back in third place.

Stephen Strasburg tries to cure the sting of Monday’s collapse and will face Miami All-Star Henderson Alvarez in a marquee mound matchup. The Marlins have surged to eight wins in nine games without a homer and only four RBIs from All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton. “We’re not going to be able to rely on just one or two guys all year, and we know that,” Jeff Baker told reporters after his game-winning hit Monday. “Guys collectively are trying to pull their end of the rope.”

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET; MASN2 (Washington), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (7-8, 3.67 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Henderson Alvarez (7-5, 2.62)

Strasburg has managed just one victory in his last eight starts and is winless in the last four while allowing 12 runs over 25 innings. The 26-year-old San Diego native has yielded three or fewer runs in 14 of 22 starts while striking out 163 and walking 30 in 137 1/3 innings. Stanton is 9-for-26 with three homers versus Strasburg, who is 7-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 16 career starts against the Marlins.

Alvarez rebounded from two straight losses by limiting Atlanta to two runs over eight innings in a 3-2 victory last Thursday. The Venezuela native blanked Washington over five innings before leaving with elbow stiffness on May 28 and is 0-3 with a 3.19 ERA in six career starts versus the Nationals. Bryce Harper is 6-for-13 with two homers against Alvarez, who permitted two or fewer runs in 14 of his last 18 outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baker’s walk-off single extended his hitting streak to 11 games and Miami SS Adeiny Hechavarria is 10-for-26 during a seven-game run.

2. Washington RF Jayson Werth, who has 11 RBis in nine games against the Marlins in 2014, left Monday’s game with an ankle injury but could be available Tuesday.

3. The Marlins have won 25 one-run games – more than anyone else in the majors -- while losing 16.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Nationals 1