Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2018 ) Washington 5, Miami 8

Miami Marlins second baseman Starlin Castro was sluggish at the plate heading into his team's abbreviated two-game set against the Washington Nationals, but that quickly changed in the series opener. After homering to highlight a three-RBI performance in an 8-5 win, Castro looks to provide an encore on Tuesday as the last-place Marlins vie for a sweep of their visiting National League East rivals.

Castro had a two-run double in the fifth inning before capping the scoring in the series opener for Miami (59-91), which has answered a five-game losing skid with back-to-back victories. The 28-year-old Dominican has feasted on the Nationals this season, going 21-for-56 with two homers, six RBIs and 11 runs scored - although he is just 2-for-12 with seven strikeouts against Tuesday's scheduled starter Stephen Strasburg. Anthony Rendon homered to highlight his three-hit performance for Washington (76-75), which fell for just the third time in 10 contests. Rendon has reached base in a team-best 26 consecutive outings, although rookie Juan Soto saw his 21-game streak halted in the series opener.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (8-7, 3.87 ERA) at Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (2-0, 1.42)

Strasburg has reeled in four straight victories while posting a slim 0.67 ERA in his last four starts against the Marlins. The 30-year-old scattered three hits and struck out eight in five frames of a 5-2 win at Miami on May 27. Strasburg improved to 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in his last four outings overall on Wednesday after allowing one run on five hits while striking out nine over seven innings of a 5-1 triumph at Philadelphia.

Alcantara will make his fourth consecutive start against an NL East foe this season on Tuesday after sandwiching encounters with the New York Mets around a scoreless stint versus Philadelphia. The 23-year-old Dominican permitted two runs on as many hits in a no-decision against the Mets on Thursday. Alcantara will be making his 12th career trip to the mound to face Washington for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington OF Bryce Harper is 4-for-27 with 13 strikeouts in his last seven games.

2. Miami CF Lewis Brinson is 3-for-8 with two RBIs and two runs scored in his last two contests after going 1-for-17 in his previous five.

3. Nationals SS Trea Turner has scored four runs during his six-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Marlins 2