Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 15th 2024

Stadium: Nationals Park Washington
Logo Miami Marlins
VS
Logo Washington Nationals
8.5
OPENER
-170
8.5o -104
CURRENT
-1.5 +121
+145
MONEYLINE
-177
3
SCORE
4

Preview and Prediction

The Miami Marlins, who hold the worst record in the National League at 11-42 against left-handed starters this season, will once again face a southpaw on Sunday afternoon as they aim to split the series with the Washington Nationals on their home turf.

Taking the mound for the Nationals (67-81) will be MacKenzie Gore (8-12, 4.34 ERA), who boasts a solid 1-1 record with a 2.95 ERA in three previous starts against the Marlins. On the other side, right-hander Adam Oller (1-3, 5.40) will make his first career start against the Nationals for the struggling Marlins (55-94).

After dropping the series opener 6-3 on Thursday, the Nationals bounced back with two consecutive wins, showcasing different offensive strategies to secure the victories. In Friday's 4-1 win, Washington took advantage of five stolen bases and three Miami errors, while their bullpen held the Marlins to just one run over the final four innings. The Nationals have a perfect 17-0 record when stealing four or more bases in a game and lead the league with 209 stolen bases, making them the only team in the MLB to surpass the 200-steal mark.

See also: "Game 4 of Dodgers-Padres NLDS: A Look at the 5 Key Factors" Uncertainty Surrounding Dodgers Shortstop Miguel Rojas' Availability for Game 4 Due to Groin Injury See also: Uncertainty Surrounding Dodgers Shortstop Miguel Rojas' Availability for Game 4 Due to Groin Injury

In Saturday's 4-1 victory, the Nationals relied on the long ball, with solo homers from Joey Gallo, Jose Tena, and Juan Yepez. Lefty starter Patrick Corbin picked up the win after allowing just one run over six innings. This was the seventh time this season that the Nationals have hit three or more home runs in a game, and they remain last in the National League in home runs with 125.

Manager Dave Martinez expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance, saying, "Our guys hit some homers today. It was awesome." He also expressed confidence in his young lineup, believing that as they gain more experience, they will become more proficient in hitting home runs. Currently, shortstop CJ Abrams leads the team with 20 home runs, with only three other Nationals players reaching double digits.

Corbin, who started the season with a disappointing 2-12 record in his first 14 decisions, has bounced back with four wins in his last five decisions. In Saturday's game, he allowed just one run on three hits over six innings, walking one and striking out six. Martinez praised his performance, saying, "He attacked the zone. He was really good. His cutter was good today."

Miami manager Skip Schumaker acknowledged Corbin's dominance, stating, "Corbin has been tough on us all year. His slider was really good, really effective. The fastball we just couldn't barrel up." The Marlins struggled to generate offense, with only Jonah Bride and Otto Lopez managing to get multiple hits, including a double each.

PREDICTION
Miami Marlins
3
5
Washington Nationals

Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals Recap SEP 15TH 2024

Rookie James Wood hit two solo home runs to lead the host Washington Nationals to their third straight win, 4-3, over the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first multi-homer game of Wood's career as Washington (68-81) rallied to capture the four-game series. The Nationals also won the season-series from Miami 11-2.

MacKenzie Gore (9-12) overcame a 31-pitch first inning to pick up the win, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out five. Jose A. Ferrer picked up his first career save despite allowing two hits and a run in the ninth.

Jonah Bride homered and had two hits and two runs for Miami (55-95), which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games. Adam Oller (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out two as the Marlins fell to a National League-worst (11-43) against left-handed starters.

Miami took a 1-0 lead in the third when Jacob Young, battling the sun, dropped Jhonny Pereda's fly ball on the warning track for a two-base error. One out later, Pereda advanced to third on Connor Norby's single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Burger.

Washington parlayed four consecutive one-out hits into a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Andres Chaparro started the rally with a one-out double into the right field corner and scored on a single by Luis Garcia Jr. Jose Tena singled to send Garcia to third and Keibert Ruiz followed with an RBI single to right.

Wood, who turns 22 on Tuesday. extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth with his first home run since Aug. 18, a 435-foot drive to center. The Marlins cut it to 3-2 in the seventh when Bride led off with his seventh home run off the back of the bullpen in left.

Wood made it 4-2 in the eighth when he hit his seventh homer of the year off Declan Cronin, a 426-foot blast to center. That insurance run proved to be key in the ninth when Bride singled with one out, advanced to third on an Otto Lopez single and scored on a David Hensley groundout. Ferrer then got pinch hitter Nick Fortes to fly out to left to end the game.