Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2018 ) Miami 3, Washington 7

Max Scherzer's bid for a fourth Cy Young Award has taken a big hit of late, but the ace of the Washington Nationals has another chance to boost his resume when he takes on the visiting Miami Marlins in the second of a three-game series Tuesday night. Scherzer is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his last five starts, falling behind Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets in most Cy Young predictions.

The Nationals' right-hander does have 14 innings with no earned runs allowed in his last two starts against the Marlins, who went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in dropping the series opener 7-3. Bryce Harper hit a double and added a sacrifice fly for Washington to reach the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his seven-year career. Anthony Rendon homered in Monday's win and he owns 16 RBIs in a nine-game stretch for the Nationals, who are 39-40 at home with two to play at Nationals Park. Rookie Jeff Brigham will make his fourth start for the Marlins on Tuesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jeff Brigham (0-3, 5.84 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (17-7, 2.57)

Brigham is coming off the best of his three career starts after allowing two runs and three hits with six strikeouts over five innings against Cincinnati. He was reached for six runs in a total of 7 1/3 innings over his first two outings. The 26-year-old is holding left-handed batters to a .200 average but righties are at .350.

Scherzer had 13 strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets on Thursday, and he's 10 shy of becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to punch out 300 in a season. The 34-year-old entered Monday tied for the National League lead in wins, ranked third in ERA and topped all hurlers with a .188 opponents' batting average. He is 11-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 18 career starts against the Marlins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rendon has reached safely in a career-high 32 straight games.

2. Marlins 1B Peter O'Brien is 5-for-10 with a home run and two doubles in three games against Washington this year.

3. Nationals LF Juan Soto slugged his 21st home run Monday, one shy of tying Harper for second on baseball's all-time list for a player before his 20th birthday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Marlins 2