Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Picks and Predictions June 15th 2024

After Eventful Series Opener, Nats Seek More Success vs. Marlins

The Washington Nationals, fueled by resolving an on-field conflict, will aim for their second straight victory against the visiting Miami Marlins on Saturday afternoon. The Nationals are on a winning streak, with victories in six out of their last seven games, and secured an 8-1 victory in the first game of the series on Friday night.

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Nationals Overcome On-Field Confrontation

Dugout Incident

In a rare dugout incident, Nationals’ starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore was shoved by third baseman Nick Senzel after the top of the second inning. The altercation stemmed from Gore’s frustration with Senzel’s throw to first, which allowed Miami’s Nick Fortes to beat the throw and Tim Anderson to score from third, giving the Marlins an early 1-0 lead.

“You hope that’s private, sometimes it can’t be,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of the confrontation. “They’ll work it out, good teams usually work it out, and I know these guys are close. I see them every day, so they worked it out. It was good. MacKenzie went about his business, Nick went about his business, and everything’s good.”

Strong Response

The Nationals responded impressively, with seven straight hits to start the third inning, including a three-run homer by Lane Thomas, leading to a decisive inning that turned the game around. “All of a sudden, we cleared the air and here we go,” Martinez said. “The boys stepped up and we got some big runs, had a big inning, led by Lane. I loved the aggression, I loved the way we went out there and played. Everything’s good, can’t wait to play (Saturday).”

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Pitching Matchup

DJ Herz for the Nationals

On Saturday, DJ Herz, a rookie left-handed pitcher with a 0-1 record and a 6.48 ERA, will be starting for the Nationals. Herz is set to make his third start in the big leagues and has not yet gone up against the Marlins. During his most recent game, he gave up two runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings in an 8-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Herz faced challenges in the second inning, requiring 33 pitches to finish it, but then improved and got eight of the following nine batters out.

“I just needed a reset,” Herz said. “Let it go. Move on to the next. Go back out there. These guys are going to put runs up, and sure enough, it happened.”

Trevor Rogers for the Marlins

Trevor Rogers, a left-handed pitcher, will provide the Marlins with a counterpunch. Rogers has a good record against the Nationals, going 3-3 with a 3.48 earned run average in nine starts. On May 15, he gave up no runs in five innings against the Detroit Tigers, earning his only victory of the season. He has pitched well recently, but his last few starts have not resulted in a decision.

Key Players and Recent Performances

Nationals’ Lineup

Lane Thomas was the star of Friday’s game with a three-run homer, contributing significantly to the Nationals’ seven-hit third inning. Max Kepler has also been hot, contributing to the team’s recent success with timely hits and solid defense.

Marlins’ Lineup

Tim Anderson continues to be the hottest hitter for the Marlins, going 3-for-4 on Friday and improving to 9-for-16 over his past four games since returning from a bereavement absence. Anderson has raised his batting average from .188 to .221 in this span. “The hits are getting through,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “That’s just baseball. It’s tough to figure out sometimes, but I feel like since he’s come back, he’s gotten a little bit more in his legs and he’s hitting the ball hard. The ground balls are getting through, though the line drives are getting caught. It’s what drives you crazy as a hitter, it’s just balls are now getting through for him.”

Conclusion

As the Nationals aim to continue their winning streak and secure another victory against the Marlins, the performances of DJ Herz and Trevor Rogers will be crucial. The Nationals have shown resilience and the ability to overcome internal conflicts, which bodes well for their chances. Meanwhile, the Marlins will look to bounce back and find more consistent offensive production. The outcome of this game will play a significant role in determining the momentum of the series.

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