Miami @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2013 ) Washington 5, Miami 2
The Washington Nationals still have a long climb to become a factor in the National League playoff race, but they have a chance to make a surge with their next 19 games against the bottom three teams in the NL East, starting with a visit from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Washington had a five-game winning streak snapped Sunday with a 6-4 loss at Kansas City but has won 11 of 16 to climb back to .500. The Nationals are 13 games behind Atlanta in the National League East and eight back of Cincinnati for the second wild card.
The Marlins have dropped five of their last six and have the worst record in the National League. Miami's offense has been as punchless as ever recently, scoring three runs or fewer in the last five games. The Nationals have been plagued by offensive outages, as well, as they're 59-16 when scoring three runs or more but only 6-49 when pushing across two or fewer.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (2-4, 3.82 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Ross Ohlendorf (2-0, 2.58)
Eovaldi is winless in his last seven starts with his last victory coming July 12 against the Nationals. He came out of that game with a 2.93 ERA but has gone 0-4 with a 4.50 ERA since. The 23-year-old's start against Washington earlier this season marked the only previous meeting, and he allowed three runs on three hits over six innings.
Ohlendorf came off the disabled list to face the Cubs last week, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his first outing since a relief stint on July 31. The 31-year-old had allowed only one run in each of his two previous starts this season. Ohlendorf is 1-4 with a 4.78 ERA in six games (five starts) against Miami.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington LF/1B Tyler Moore has hit safely in all six games since being recalled and is 12-for-25 with five multi-hit games during that span.
2. Miami's starting pitchers have allowed three or fewer runs in 49 of the past 62 games.
3. Nationals CF Denard Span is 16-for-40 during a nine-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Marlins 3