Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2014 ) Washington 2, Miami 1

The Washington Nationals attempt to take some momentum into the playoffs when they host the Miami Marlins for a day-night doubleheader on Friday to begin a four-game series. Manager Matt Williams has given his regulars some rest while keeping them sharp since the Nationals clinched their second National League East title in three years on Sept. 16. Washington split a doubleheader with the New York Mets on Thursday and lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 ½ games for the top seed in the NL.

Nationals’ center fielder Denard Span, among the NL leaders in hits, sat out both games of Thursday’s doubleheader with a sore right knee and is expected to play Friday. Miami rallied to beat Philadelphia 6-4 on Thursday to take two of three in the series. Christian Yelich, 22, is finishing a strong first full season with a .290 average, 164 hits, 21 stolen bases, 30 doubles and a .996 fielding percentage - leading all major league left fielders.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET; Fox Sports Florida, MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jarred Cosart (13-10, 3.70 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Doug Fister (15-6, 2.55)

Cosart is winless in his last three starts, but the Texas native has been solid since being acquired from Houston at the trade deadline. The 24-year-old is 4-3 with a 2.29 ERA in nine outings with the Marlins and has been better on the road in 2014 with a 7-4 mark and 3.34 ERA. Jayson Werth is 4-for-6 with a homer versus Cosart, who is 0-1 in two starts with a 3.65 ERA against the Nationals.

Fister has won three straight starts, including last Friday against Miami when he permitted two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory. The 30-year-old California native has walked only 24 batters in 155 innings overall and is 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 home starts. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is 5-for-14 with two doubles and a homer versus Fister, who is 1-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three games (two starts) against Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami 3B Casey McGehee is one hit away from matching his career high of 174 in 2010 with Milwaukee.

2. Washington OF-INF Ryan Zimmerman is 3-for-9 with a triple and an RBI since returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out almost two months.

3. Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria snapped out of a 1-for-20 slump with three hits Thursday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Marlins 1