Two of baseball’s least productive lineups are set to face off at loanDepot park on Tuesday as the Washington Nationals (18-23) are on the road to face the Miami Marlins (20-21) for the first of a three-game series.
The Nationals split their last series against the Mets, taking the finale 10-3 on Monday at Nationals Park. Joey Meneses was 4 for 5 with three doubles and four RBIs. Lane Thomas went 3 for 4 with two doubles and three runs.
The Marlins are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They lost two of three against the Reds in their last series, taking the finale 3-1 on Sunday at loanDepot park. Bryan De La Cruz went 3 for 4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.
The teams are meeting for the first time this season. The Marlins dominated the 2022 season series between the NL East rivals (15-4), including two out of three in their most recent meeting at loanDepot park in September.
ON THE MOUND
Josiah Gray (3-5, 2.96 ERA) is set to take the mound for Washington. The righty allowed two runs over seven innings in his last start, an 11-6 road win over the Giants on Wednesday. He earned the win, scattering five hits while striking out three and walking four.
Over six starts against the Marlins in 2022, Gray was 0-3 with a 5.67 ERA over 33.1 innings. He had 36 strikeouts and 10 walks. For Miami, southpaw Jesus Luzardo (3-2, 3.38 ERA) is on the mound. Luzardo made one start against the Nationals in 2022, throwing six innings in a 5-4 road defeat on September 16.
He gave up five hits and walked one, while striking out six in the no-decision. In his last start on May 9, Luzardo got the win on the road against the Diamondbacks. He threw six innings and gave up one run on seven hits, striking out five and walking two in the 6-2 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
The Washington offense is averaging 4.0 runs per game for the season, third lowest in the NL, with a slash line of .255/.320/.357. Thomas leads the team in OPS at .724. The center fielder is slashing .272/.329/.395 with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and 25 runs over 40 games.
Over the last five games, though, Washington has averaged 5.6 runs a game while performing better across the board (.282/.361/.441). Against southpaws like Luzardo this season, the Nats have a .782 OPS. Luis Garcia is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a .976 OPS in 29 at-bats.
Miami is slashing .247/.304/.382 for the season and averaging 3.4 runs per game, lowest in MLB. Luis Arraez leads the team with a .908 OPS. The second baseman has one home run, 14 RBIs, and 14 runs scored with a slash line of .382/.437/.471.
Miami is averaging 4.6 runs per game in the last five with an improved slash line (.253/.321/.465). The Fish have a .667 OPS against righties in 2023, fifth lowest in the league. With a .959 OPS over 105 at-bats, Arraez also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Washington is 10-9 on the road in 2023, scoring 5.1 runs per game while allowing 4.1 runs. Miami has gone 11-11 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 3.1 runs per game while surrendering 4.5. Miami is 7-3 in the last 10 games between the teams at loanDepot park with an average scoreline of 5.3-3.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Nationals are fifth in the NL East, eight games behind the division-leading Braves. The Marlins are third in the NL East, five games behind the Braves.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Miami Marlins (-165)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
