The Washington Nationals were on a 13-10 run and were 2.0 games from the Wild Card when they rolled into Miami and had the win sewn up in the first game of that series — until a blown save unraveled the fabric of the team. Since that point, the Nats went on a 9-17 skid. Last night, the Nats showed they can beat one of the best teams in baseball. Now they have to show they can win a game started by the reigning NL Cy Young winner, Sandy Alcantara.
The Nats have Trevor Williams on the mound tonight, and he hopes to build on his previous start. In roster moves, the Nats reinstated Victor Robles from the IL and in the corresponding move optioned Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester. While Call helped win Sunday’s game in Atlanta by robbing a home run and two weeks before hit a walk-off HR for the Nats to win another game — it is a results business of “what have you done for me lately?” Robles has not played for the Nats since May 6 as he went on the IL with a back injury. After a short rehab assignment with Rochester Triple-A, Robles returns and will start tonight in center field.
“I don’t want to play any more extra innings, honestly.”
— manager Dave Martinez said after yesterday’s game
“Let’s win in nine [innings].”
The Nats starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.46 for 17th best in MLB. The Nats are just 0.44 from 7th best in MLB in ERA.
Here is how they rank:
No. 5 Starter: Jake Irvin 5.81 ERA
No. 4 Starter: Patrick Corbin 4.81
No. 3 Starter: Trevor Williams 4.11
No. 2 Starter: MacKenzie Gore 3.74
No. 1 Starter: Josiah Gray 3.19
Here is your Baseball Savant Statcast link for the game.
Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
