On Thursday, two teams from the National League East clash at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Miami Marlins (54-91, 5th NL East) will face off against the Washington Nationals (64-80, 4th NL East). The Marlins are coming off a recent 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking their second consecutive defeat in the ongoing three-game series. With their postseason hopes dashed, Miami’s focus shifts to finishing the season strong. Meanwhile, the Nationals are reeling from a heavy 12-0 defeat against the Atlanta Braves and have lost four of their last six games. They find themselves 14 ½ games behind the third and final NL wild card spot with only 18 games left in the season. Both teams will be missing key players, with Miami sidelining nine pitchers along with Dane Myers and Derek Hill, while Washington will be without five pitchers and right-fielder Alex Call.
This article was written prior to these two playing on Wednesday.
Marlins Struggle at the Plate and on the Mound
The Miami Marlins have faced significant challenges this season, ranking 17th in batting average at .241. Their performance has dipped further, placing them 25th in slugging percentage (.373) and 29th in on-base percentage (.297) and runs scored (555). Jake Burger leads the team with 25 home runs and 61 RBIs, while Jesus Sanchez follows with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs. Collectively, the Marlins have accumulated 365 extra-base hits across 145 games, with 214 doubles, 18 triples, and 133 home runs.
On the pitching side, Miami ranks 26th in batting average allowed (.257) and 28th in both WHIP (1.38) and ERA (4.74). They have also secured the lowest number of Quality Starts in the league with just 27. Anthony Bender leads the team with four wins, while Edward Cabrera boasts the highest strikeout count at 90. On Thursday, the Marlins will send Darren McCaughan to the mound, who has struggled this season with an ERA of 9.00 and a WHIP of 2.50 in his limited appearances.
Nationals Fall Short Both at Bat and on the Hill
Washington’s season has been similarly challenging, with the team ranking 14th in batting average at .244 and 23rd in runs scored (604) and slugging percentage (.378). CJ Abrams leads the Nationals with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs, while Luis Garcia Jr. adds 15 home runs and 63 RBIs. Despite having eight players contributing between 22 and 64 RBIs, the Nationals have only managed 384 extra-base hits across 144 games, including 248 doubles, 16 triples, and 120 home runs.
On the pitching front, Washington holds the 25th position in ERA (4.37) and Quality Starts (43), alongside 27th in WHIP (1.35) and 28th in batting average against (.262). Jake Irvin leads the squad with nine wins and an ERA of 4.28 among starters, while MacKenzie Gore stands out with 158 strikeouts. DJ Herz will take the mound for Washington on Thursday, entering the game with a 3-7 record and an ERA of 3.82, having shown promise in recent outings.
Key Betting Insights for Marlins vs. Nationals
The Marlins have lost four of their last six games overall. With one of the weakest pitching staffs in Major League Baseball, Miami ranks 28th in both ERA and WHIP, and they hold the last position in Quality Starts. While the Nationals may not be known for their offensive firepower, they maintain a respectable batting average, sitting 14th in the league. This plays into Miami’s pitching weaknesses. On the mound for the Marlins, Darren McCaughan’s track record shows a concerning trend, allowing 20 earned runs over 24.1 innings in his appearances. In contrast, Washington’s DJ Herz has been more consistent lately, giving up only eight runs over 26.1 innings in his last five games, including a standout performance where he tossed five scoreless innings against the Pirates.
