Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Picks and Predictions September 13th 2024

Friday’s matchup between the Marlins and Nationals has a first pitch of 6:45 PM ET from Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and the Nationals are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -148. The money line odds for a Marlins win are at +125.

Miami comes in with a record of 55-92, while the Nationals are 65-81 overall. Edward Cabrera is starting for the Marlins, and he is facing off against DJ Herz. In the NL East, the Marlins are in 5th place, while the Nationals are 4th.

Miami vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Marlins at Nationals
• Where: Nationals Park Washington
• Date: Friday, September 13th
• Betting Odds WSH -148 | MIA +125 O/U 8

The Marlins Can Win If…

Miami is sending right-hander Edward Cabrera to the mound today vs. the Nationals. He has made 17 starts this year and has a record of 4-6 with an ERA of 4.88. Cabrera’s WHIP for the season is 1.40. In his 17 appearances, he has turned in four quality starts. Cabrera most recently pitched on September 8th, where he picked up the win, going seven innings and not giving up a run. Before that outing, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts. The right-hander has been much better on the road, coming in with an ERA of 8.27 compared to 4.14 at home.

The Marlins offense has been one of the worst in the league this season, averaging just 3.8 runs per game, which is 29th in the MLB. They have been even worse on the road, averaging only 3.4 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .241, which is 14th in the league, and have the 24th ranked home run total in the league.

Jake Burger has been the Marlins’ top power threat this season, as his 25 home runs are 1st on the team and 15th in the league. He has also driven in 61 runs, which is also the top mark on the team. Over his last eight games, Otto Lopez has gone 11/32, and Connor Norby has struggled, going just 6/28 in his last seven games.

• The Marlins are 4-6 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 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Marlins are 5-5
• Looking back across the Marlins last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Miami has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Marlins have averaged 4.8 runs per game on offense

You can always refer to the current MLB Odds to stay up to date with the latest betting lines.

The Nationals Can Win If…

Washington is starting left-hander DJ Herz today vs. the Marlins. He has made 16 starts this season and has a record of 3-7 with a 3.82 ERA. Herz’s WHIP for the season is 1.22, and opponents are batting .214 off him this year. In his 16 appearances, he has turned in two quality starts. Herz’s last outing came vs. the Pirates, where he picked up the win, going five innings and not giving up a run. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight outings.

Washington’s offense has been a below-average unit this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the MLB. They have also been one of the league’s worst home run-hitting teams, coming in at 25th in the league. However, they do have a team batting average of .244, which is 12th in the league. The Nationals’ lineup has been tough to strike out this season, as they are 5th in the league in fewest strikeouts per game.

CJ Abrams comes into the game as the Nationals’ leader in home runs and RBIs, but he is batting just .239 this season. However, he has two homers and is hitting .263 over his last five games. Luis Garcia Jr. has also been a key run producer for Washington, as he is 2nd on the team with 63 RBIs and is batting .281 for the season. Currently, Lane Thomas and Drew Millas are both on three-game hitting streaks.

• The Nationals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Nationals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Washington has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Nationals have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Nationals are 5-5
• Looking back across the Nationals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Washington has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Nationals have averaged 4.4 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as this is our lowest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have the Nationals picking up the win. Looking at today’s starters, DJ Herz is our 6th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts, and he also has the 5th best innings pitched projection on today’s slate.

Nationals’ DJ Herz Aims to Build on Hitless Start as He Faces Marlins

Rookie lefty DJ Herz is coming off one of the best starts of his young career and will look to carry that momentum into Friday’s game as the Washington Nationals take on the Miami Marlins. Herz’s performance last week, where he didn’t allow a hit, has his confidence riding high as he looks to help his team bounce back from a tough loss.

DJ Herz Riding High After Dominant Outing

The Nationals have been managing his workload carefully, pulling him after five innings last time out to protect his arm. Herz is fully on board with the plan, saying, “I definitely understand,” and is focused on staying healthy and effective as he gains more experience in his rookie season.

Facing the Marlins: A Familiar Opponent

This isn’t the first time Herz has faced the Marlins, and his previous outing against them back in June was nothing short of electric. Herz dominated, going six scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts, allowing just one hit in a 4-0 win. He’ll look to replicate that performance and give Washington a much-needed lift after a tough series opener.

Nationals Looking to Shake Off Defensive Mistakes

The Nationals (65-81) are eager to rebound after a 6-3 loss to the Marlins on Thursday, where they let an early 3-0 lead slip away, thanks in part to three defensive errors. It was a frustrating night for manager Dave Martinez, who didn’t hold back when calling out his team’s mistakes. “We have to catch the ball before we throw it,” Martinez said, emphasizing that the team needs to clean up their defense if they want to compete.

On the bright side, Washington’s young talent continues to shine, with Dylan Crews delivering back-to-back two-hit games, including an RBI single in the series opener. While the defensive struggles were the story of the night, the continued development of the Nationals’ young core, especially Crews, remains a positive takeaway.

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Marlins Building Momentum

The Marlins (55-92) have flipped the script in this series after dropping the first eight matchups against Washington this season. Thursday’s 6-3 win marked their second straight victory, with help from Washington’s errors, but Miami’s bats were also productive. Jonah Bride and Connor Norby each drove in two runs, and Jake Burger chipped in with three hits, giving the Marlins the edge offensively.

Miami manager Skip Schumaker emphasized the importance of putting the ball in play, and it paid off as Washington’s defense crumbled under the pressure. “Striking out is part of the game, but putting the ball in play forces the other team to make plays,” Schumaker said. His approach worked perfectly as the Marlins took advantage of Washington’s mistakes.

Edward Cabrera’s Hot Streak

On the mound for the Marlins will be Edward Cabrera (4-6, 4.88 ERA), who is coming off back-to-back dominant starts. In his last outing, Cabrera flirted with a no-hitter, taking it into the sixth inning and finishing with seven scoreless innings in a 10-1 win over the Phillies.

Cabrera’s history against Washington has been a mixed bag. He’s 2-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five career starts against the Nats, and his last outing against them in April didn’t go well—he gave up six runs (five earned) in just over four innings in an 11-4 loss. But with his recent form, Cabrera will be looking to build on his momentum and help Miami secure at least a split in the series.

Key Storylines to Watch

• DJ Herz’s Momentum: After his impressive, hitless performance, can Herz keep it going? He’s already shut down the Marlins once this season and will look to do it again as the Nats hope to bounce back.
• Nationals’ Defensive Woes: Washington’s defense has been shaky, and it cost them in the series opener. Can they tighten things up in the field and avoid another loss due to mistakes?
• Edward Cabrera’s Hot Streak: Cabrera is coming off two strong starts and will try to extend that streak against a Nationals team he’s struggled against in the past. If he can stay locked in, it could be a tough night for Washington’s bats.
• Marlins’ Offensive Push: Miami’s offense has come alive lately, and they’ve been taking advantage of Washington’s mistakes. If they can keep putting the ball in play and forcing the Nationals’ defense to make plays, they might just steal another game.

Conclusion

Friday’s matchup between the Nationals and Marlins will showcase two young pitchers looking to continue their strong runs. DJ Herz, coming off a hitless outing, hopes to replicate his past success against the Marlins, while Edward Cabrera aims to keep his hot streak going for Miami. As Washington tries to shake off their defensive mistakes, the Marlins will look to capitalize and keep their momentum going. With both teams eager for a win, it’s shaping up to be an exciting game in this four-game series.You can always refer to the current MLB Odds to stay up to date with the latest betting lines.