The Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins finish their three-game series Sunday at LoanDepot Park with first pitch set for 12:15 p.m. ET on Peacock. Washington enters at 19-21, while Miami is 18-22 after each team took a game in the first two nights.
Washington opened the series with a 3-2 win Friday, then lost 8-7 Saturday after leading 4-0. James Wood went 2 for 3 and hit his 11th home run, and CJ Abrams finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs, but Miami clawed back behind Xavier Edwards’ tying homer in the seventh, Jakob Marsee’s three-run shot in the eighth and a two-run homer from Kyle Stowers, who finished a triple shy of the cycle. Otto Lopez also added a single and a double to push his hitting streak to 12 games.
The Nationals have won three of their last four games, four of their last six and three of their last four series, and they have been stronger away from home at 13-8. They also have scored at least seven runs in three of their last four games, a stretch that produced 29 runs, though they have allowed at least five in two of their last three and in three of their last five. The Marlins have dropped five of their last seven games, all at home, and have lost back-to-back series while allowing seven or more runs in three of their last five and six or more in five of their last nine.
Cade Cavalli is scheduled to start for Washington, carrying a 1-2 record and a 4.15 ERA in eight starts. Sandy Alcantara is set for Miami with a 3-2 mark and a 4.01 ERA in eight starts. Cavalli has paired a 1.70 WHIP with 4.4 walks and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings across 34 2/3 innings, while Alcantara has a 1.28 WHIP, 3.1 walks per nine and 6.3 strikeouts per nine over 51 2/3 innings. Washington has been the more consistent road team; Miami has to stop the slide at home if it wants to leave the series with momentum.
The contrast is sharp. The Nationals keep finding ways to score, but they have not put away games cleanly, and the Marlins have answered every recent stumble with another one at home. Sunday’s finale gives both clubs a chance to leave Miami with a split and a little breathing room in the standings.
