Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) Washington 10, Miami 4

The Washington Nationals pulled out a win on Saturday and maintained their lead in the National League wild card race but the cracks in the roster made the game more difficult than necessary. The Nationals will try to overcome those cracks and finish off a three-game sweep when they visit the Miami Marlins for the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.

Washington entered play on Saturday with the worst bullpen ERA in the majors (5.79) and lived down to that billing when veteran right-hander Fernando Rodney came on with a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning and promptly served up four runs, forcing the offense to bail out the bullpen with a six-run rally in the 10th inning and a 10-4 triumph. The win left the Nationals one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for the top wild card spot and four games clear of the third-place Chicago Cubs. The Marlins' 101 losses are the second-most in franchise history and the team, which dropped 10 of its last 12 games, still has a shot at surpassing the record of 108 set by the 1998 squad. Miami will have to deal with Washington rookie Austin Voth on Sunday while countering with righty Pablo Lopez.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Austin Voth (1-1, 3.58 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-8, 4.94)

Voth allowed three or fewer earned runs in six of his seven appearances and held the Atlanta Braves to one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings in his last start on Sept. 14. The 27-year-old completed six innings twice in his seven outings and owns 36 strikeouts in 32 2/3 total frames. Voth is making his first career appearance against Miami and is 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA in three starts on the road.

Lopez is winless in his last five starts and did not factor in the decision on Monday, when he held Arizona to three runs and five hits over six innings. The 23-year-old Venezuela native posted a quality start in two of his last three turns. Lopez was not at his best at Washington on Aug. 31, when he was ripped for six runs on six hits - three homers - in three innings to absorb a loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals OF Juan Soto is 2-for-23 with nine strikeouts over the last seven games.

2. Miami INF Starlin Castro is 7-for-13 with six extra-base hits and five runs scored over the last three contests.

3. Washington C Kurt Suzuki (elbow) delivered a three-run double as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning on Saturday - his first appearance since Sep. 7.

PREDICTION: Nationals 8, Marlins 4