Nationals Look to Maintain Unbeaten Record Against Marlins

Nationals shoot to maintain perfect mark vs. Marlins

Wednesday’s matchup between the Nationals and Marlins has a first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET from loanDepot Park in Miami, FL. MacKenzie Gore is starting for the Nationals, and they are 62-76, putting them 4th in the NL East. The Marlins are 5th in the NL East with an overall record of 51-87.

Washington is currently favored on the money line, and the over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs. BSFL will be televising this one.

Washington vs. Miami Key Information

Teams: Nationals at Marlins
Where: loanDepot Park Miami
Date: Wednesday, September 4th
Betting Odds WSH -141 | MIA +119 O/U 8.5

The Nationals Can Win If…

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Marlins on the road. He has made 27 starts this year and has a record of 8-11 with a 4.45 ERA. Gore’s WHIP for the season is 1.55, and opponents are batting .270 off him this year. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going six innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. Gore has given up at least one homer in four straight outings. Per nine innings, he is averaging 3.6 walks compared to 9.54 strikeouts.

Washington’s offense has been one of the league’s worst home run-hitting teams this season, and they are also just 24th in the league in runs scored. However, they do come into the game with the 11th best team batting average. Overall, they are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league.

Luis Garcia Jr. comes into the game with a team-high 63 RBIs and is batting .290 this season. He is also 2nd on the team with 15 homers. CJ Abrams has also been a solid run producer for the Nationals, with 62 RBIs to go along with a team-high 18 homers. Over his last six games, Dylan Crews has two home runs and is batting .259.

The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
Over their last five games, the Nationals are 3-2 vs. the run line.
Washington has an over/under record of 2-8 in their last ten games.
The Nationals have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
Across their last ten road games, the Nationals are 4-6
Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
Washington has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 3.7 runs per game on offense

The Marlins Can Win If…

Right-hander Valente Bellozo gets the start for the Marlins today as he faces the Nationals at home. Bellozo has made eight starts this year and has a record of 2-2 with an ERA of 4.32. Looking at his overall numbers, Bellozo has a WHIP of 1.34 and has issued 3.24 walks per nine innings compared to 6.91 strikeouts. In his last outing, Bellozo finished with a no-decision, giving up six earned runs in four innings of work. Before that, he had a quality start against the Phillies, going seven innings and not giving up a run.

Jake Burger has been the Marlins’ top power threat this season, as his 25 homers is 12th in the league and leads the team. He also has driven in 59 runs, which is also the best mark on the team. Burger is batting .247 this season, and Jesús Sánchez is right behind him with a batting average of .243. Sánchez has 17 homers, which is the 2nd most on the team.

As a team, the Marlins are averaging just 3.8 runs per game, which is 29th in the league. Their team batting average is just .241, and they are also near the bottom of the league in walks, on-base percentage, and OPS. Miami’s offense is coming off a game in which they scored just one run on five hits. However, Derek Hill has two homers in his last three games and is 4/14 in that stretch.

The Marlins are 5-5 in their last ten games.
Over their last five games, the Marlins are 3-2 vs. the run line.
Miami has an over/under record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
The Marlins have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
Across their last ten home games, the Marlins are 5-5
Looking back across the Marlins last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
Miami has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
In their ten most recent road games, the Marlins have averaged 4.3 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, and for a money line pick, we would be leaning toward the Marlins to come out on top at home. The Marlins have the 2nd best chance to pick up a win today, and their offense is projected to have the 8th most hits. This game is projected to have the 8th most combined runs in today’s slate and the 6th most hits.

The Washington Nationals might not be in playoff contention, but their dominance over the Miami Marlins this season is a rare bright spot. As the two teams wrap up a two-game series on Wednesday, the Nationals aim to extend their perfect 8-0 record against the Marlins.

Nationals vs. Marlins: A One-Sided Rivalry

Despite the struggles of both teams — the Nationals at 62-76 and the Marlins at 51-87 — Washington has owned the season series. In fact, if the Nationals had faced only Miami this year, fans in D.C. might have had much more to celebrate. Washington’s clean sweep of the Marlins has been a surprising storyline for two of the six worst teams in Major League Baseball.

Washington’s Focus: Development and Mental Toughness

Nationals manager Dave Martinez has stressed that, even though his team is long out of the playoff picture, these late-season games are crucial for the growth of his young players. Martinez emphasizes the importance of staying mentally focused during the “grind” of September.

“Physically, we’re good,” Martinez said. “It’s the mental grind now. You’ve got to stay in it mentally and focus on every pitch because this time of year is taxing. You’ve got to figure out what you really play for and be ready.”

Pitching Matchup: MacKenzie Gore vs. Valente Bellozo

Washington will send left-hander MacKenzie Gore (8-11, 4.45 ERA) to the mound. Once one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball, Gore has had a rocky season. Though he throws hard, topping out at 98 mph, his control and secondary pitches have not developed as expected. Gore has struggled with consistency, allowing 10.3 hits per nine innings — a career-high — and posting a WHIP of 1.547. Despite these issues, Gore has shown flashes of brilliance, including a dominant 10-strikeout performance against Miami on June 14.

The Nationals are 12-15 in games where Gore starts, but he has been effective against the Marlins, with a 1-1 record and a 3.65 ERA in two career starts. In his most recent outing against Miami, Gore threw seven innings of one-run ball in an 8-1 Nationals win.

The Marlins will counter with rookie right-hander Valente Bellozo (2-2, 4.32 ERA), who has had an up-and-down season. Bellozo started strong, posting a 2.45 ERA through his first six appearances, but his recent struggles have seen him give up 12 runs over his last two starts, leading to an 11.42 ERA in that stretch. However, given the Marlins’ overall struggles, his 4-4 record when starting represents some stability in an otherwise rough year.

Injury Report: Jesus Sanchez Questionable

Marlins right fielder Jesus Sanchez, one of the team’s most productive players with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases, is questionable for Wednesday’s game. Sanchez left Tuesday’s contest with a back spasm after stealing second base in the second inning. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is hopeful that it’s a minor issue, noting that Sanchez “already feels good.” His presence in the lineup will be critical for the Marlins as they try to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Nationals.

Both Teams Focus on the Future

While the Nationals have been better than the Marlins this season, both teams are clearly in rebuilding phases. Martinez is using these late-season games as opportunities for younger players to gain experience and learn how to handle the mental and physical demands of a long MLB season.

On the Marlins side, Schumaker is dealing with a similar challenge, as many of his players arrived via trade or were called up from the minors after the July 31 trade deadline. Despite the upheaval, Miami has been playing better recently, winning five of their last nine games.

“I think our players are starting to build relationships and trust each other,” Schumaker said. “That’s been the biggest challenge — them getting to know each other off the field and then coming to the field and having fun. You can tell by the way they’re playing, they’re starting to get it.”

The Path Forward: Nationals and Marlins

While the Nationals will be looking to sweep the season series, both teams are more focused on building for the future. Washington’s young core, led by Gore, will need to continue developing if they hope to contend in the next few seasons. Gore, in particular, needs to refine his secondary pitches and command to become the frontline starter the Nationals envisioned when they acquired him in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres.

For the Marlins, the challenge is integrating their new pieces and developing chemistry on the field. Schumaker’s comments reflect a team still learning how to work together, but if they continue their recent improvement, they could surprise people in the future.

Conclusion: Nationals Eye a Sweep

As the Nationals and Marlins close out their two-game set, Washington will aim to keep their unbeaten record against Miami intact. The matchup between Gore and Bellozo highlights two young pitchers still finding their way in the big leagues. With both teams already looking toward next season, this game offers a glimpse into the future for two franchises trying to rebuild from the ground up.

The best MLB Handicappers on our MLB EXPERT PICKS, PREDICTION & BETTING TIPS

Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions September 4th 2024