Barstool Bush
Predictions

Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals

By Bush StaffUpdated 81d ago·2 min read
Miami MarlinsMIA(27-34)
Washington NationalsWSH(31-30)
7—3
FINAL
123456789RHE
MIA
000040003781
WSH
000001200370

First pitch from Nationals Park is set for 6:45 PM ET, with Lake Bachar (0-0, 3.77) getting the ball for Miami and Miles Mikolas (1-4, 6.08) going for Washington. Bachar is a reliever by trade — he's only ever gone up to 2 innings in an outing — so this is functionally a bullpen day for the Marlins, with a parade of arms behind him.

Miami Marlins
Lake Bachar
(0-0)·3.05 ERA
06/02 Lineup
Washington Nationals
Richard Lovelady
(2-3)·2.89 ERA
May 22 @ Braves
ND
1.0IP
0ER
0K
0BB
12P
06/02 Lineup

Mikolas, meanwhile, has been the Nats' most frustrating reclamation project. The 6.08 ERA tells most of the story, but he's actually been better lately — a 3.48 ERA across his last 7 appearances, and he's allowed 2 or fewer runs in 4 of his last 6 starts. His last start on May 12 in Cincinnati was a short one: 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 71 pitches, no decision. He's pitched noticeably better in bulk-relief looks than as a traditional starter this year, which makes Tuesday's straight-up start an interesting test.

Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins
(27-34)
Jun 1W@ Nationals7-3
May 31L@ Mets1-10
May 30L@ Mets1-6
May 29L@ Mets7-9
May 27L@ Blue Jays1-2
Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(31-30)
Jun 1Lvs Marlins3-7
May 31Wvs Padres4-2
May 30Wvs Padres9-4
May 29Lvs Padres5-7
May 27L@ Guardians2-3

The form lines tell you everything about why this line landed where it did. Miami came into D.C. having been outscored 25-9 across a three-game wipeout in Queens, then turned around and dropped 7 on the Nats in the series opener. Washington had just taken 2 of 3 from the Padres at home before that, so neither side has had any real consistency — they're both flipping coins. Pinnacle has the Nats at -135 with the total parked at 8.5.

The injury list is where this gets ugly, especially for the Marlins' rotation. Eury Perez (gracilis), Janson Junk (shin), Robby Snelling (internal brace surgery), and Adam Mazur are all down — which is half the reason Bachar is opening tonight in the first place. Andrew Nardi got moved to the 60-day IL on top of that. Washington has its own rotation problems with Jake Irvin still shut down from throwing, but they get a boost in the lineup: Dylan Crews (hand) returns Tuesday per manager Blake Butera.

Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins
(11)
  • Day-To-DayKemp Alderman (RF) — Triple-A Jacksonville placed Alderman on the 7-day injured list Tuesday due to a left wrist injury, Michael Germanese of Roundtable.io reports.05/25
  • Day-To-DayThomas White (SP) — Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said Sunday that White is recovering from "a bit of a shoulder thing," Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.05/25
  • 15-Day-ILJosh Ekness (RP) — The Marlins recalled Ekness from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.06/01
  • 15-Day-ILJanson Junk (SP) — The Marlins placed Junk on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shin bone inflammation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.05/31
  • 15-Day-ILEury Perez (SP) — The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.05/29
  • OutJesus Tinoco (RP) — The Marlins re-signed Tinoco (elbow) to a minor-league contract Jan. 5.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILGriffin Conine (LF) — Conine (hamstring) appears to be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.05/22
  • 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(11)
  • Day-To-DayDylan Crews (CF) — Nationals manager Blake Butera said Monday that Crews (hand) will be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/01
  • Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP) — no05/25
  • Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
  • Day-To-DayTravis Sykora (SP) — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayJarlin Susana (RP) — Susana underwent surgery last week to repair a right lat tear, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Nationals manager Blake Butera said Monday that Irvin (shoulder) remains shut down from throwing, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/01
  • 60-Day-ILMax Kranick (RP) — The Nationals transferred Kranick (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/25
  • 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) will throw to live hitters Friday at the Nationals' spring training facility in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/15
  • 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) began pitching off a mound at the Nationals' spring training complex this weekend, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — The Nationals transferred Waldichuk (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08

The play here is just figuring out how long Bachar lasts and which Marlins arms follow. Miami's bullpen got a full night off in Monday's 7-3 win, so there's depth available, but stringing together 8-plus innings of clean relief against a Nats lineup that just hung 9 on San Diego is a tall ask. If Mikolas pitches like the May version of himself, Washington is the right side. If the April version shows up, the Marlins steal another one.

Sources

MLBMiami MarlinsWashington NationalsPolymarketKalshiLake BacharRichard Lovelady