Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) Miami 2, Washington 8

Bryce Harper continues to rake for the Washington Nationals, who seek a third straight victory when they play the second of a three-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins on Saturday. The All-Star outfielder had three hits and two RBIs in an 8-2 win to begin the series as the Nationals moved back over .500 (62-61) and pulled within seven games of first-place Atlanta in the National League East.

Harper is 8-for-13 with five RBIs over his last three contests and has driven in 25 runs in 26 games since the All-Star break. Daniel Murphy has hit safely in 10 straight games for Washington while teammate Anthony Rendon is 8-for-16 with three walks and five runs scored during a five-game hitting streak. They get a crack at lefty Wei-Yin Chen in Saturday's matchup while journeyman Tommy Milone makes his fifth start of the season for the hosts. Miami has lost six in a row overall, is 2-15 over a 17-game span and has dropped 17 of its last 20 against the Nationals dating to last season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Wei-Yin Chen (4-9, 5.32 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Tommy Milone (1-1, 5.24)

Chen has allowed two earned runs on five hits in 11 2/3 innings through his first two August starts. He was rocked for seven runs in 4 1/3 frames in an 18-4 loss at Washington on July 7. The 33-year-old from Taiwan is a 0-3 with a woeful 9.88 ERA in three career starts at Nationals Park.

Milone gave the Nationals some solid innings in his first two starts after joining the club last month but he's been hit hard in his last two turns. He first gave up seven runs over six innings against Atlanta before working around 10 hits while allowing two runs in 4 1/3 at St. Louis. He opened his season with Washington by limiting the Marlins to three runs in five frames and has a 5.19 ERA lifetime versus Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Nationals placed RHP Jeremy Hellickson (wrist) on the 10-day disabled list.

2. Marlins LF Austin Dean homered Friday in his second career game.

3. Washington RHP Greg Holland has five scoreless innings out of the bullpen after posting a 7.92 ERA in 32 appearances with St. Louis.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Marlins 4