Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
When you are winning series, your team is taking care of business. There are times to get greedy and want a sweep. The Washington Nationals really could use this win today to get them to 86 games which would get them back to the magic 18 games over .500 and put them over a 90-win pace allowing them to just go 4-4 to finish the season to win 90 games. The Brewers only have teams under .500 to play the remainder of the regular season, and in order to win a Wild Card berth the Cubs can no longer win 90 games in the 162 game schedule nor can the Mets or any other team. If the Nats win 90 games, they are in and that is guaranteed!
Here is the math: the Cubs need to go 7-0 just to go 89-73 on the season, and they play the Cardinals today then the Pirates for three games then they finish the season against the Cardinals who most likely will have clinched and will not be playing all of their starters. The Mets need to go 8-0 just to go 88-84 on the season and they play all teams under .500 except the Braves next weekend who will be resting players. The Phillies would need to go 9-0 to get to 88-84, and they have five games against the Nationals. We will do a full article tonight after all games are completed to see how it looks for the final seven days of the season. Remember, the sooner the Nationals clinch — the sooner they can start resting players.
The Nationals have Austin Voth going today as their starter, and with a day game after a night game, both teams could have a much different looking lineup. Expect Raudy Read in as the catcher today, and we will await word on Asdrubal Cabrera‘s ankle which manager Dave Martinez said was injured on a slide at home last night.
For the Marlins, they are going with the righty Pablo Lopez. The Nats have some good history against Lopez with four player hitting him at .500 or better. Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon have two home runs apiece off of Lopez, and Trea Turner and Adam Eaton each have a dinger against Lopez. Both Soto and Rendon are in funks. Since Tuesday, Rendon is struggling (1-16) with no hard contact, and Juan Soto is hitless in his previous three games. Davey Martinez has some tough decisions as he writes up his lineup today.
Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
Stadium: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
1st Pitch: 1:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FOX Sports Florida, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
Trea Turner SS
Adam Eaton RF
Anthony Rendon 3B
Juan Soto LF
Howie Kendrick 1B
Brian Dozier 2B
Victor Robles CF
Yan Gomes C
Austin Voth RHP
