Washington took the field without CJ Abrams, who was scratched with an ankle issue, leaving an already M*A*S*H-unit infield even thinner. Between Abrams, James Wood, Drew Millas and three pitchers on the 60-day IL, this is a Nationals roster running on fumes, and it showed.
Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
Sun Aug 231:40 PM ET
By JR·1 min read
TLDR: The Marlins didn't just take the series — they buried the Nationals, closing out a 3-game sweep with a 6-2 win at loanDepot park.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 WSH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
 MIA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — | 6 | 8 | 1 |
Washington Nationals
- Kent struck out 5 in the loss, missed bats
- Bullpen has limited damage in recent close losses
- Lost 3 straight entering Sunday, dropped a 4th
- Three starters (Early, Herz, Gray) on 60-day IL
- Abrams (SS) scratched game-day with ankle issue
Miami Marlins
- Won first two of set before completing the sweep
- Xavier Edwards' go-ahead single sparked the win
- Bullpen closed the door in all 3 series games
- Junk's ERA sat at 4.25, still hittable
- Missing Stowers, Meyer and Bender to injury
- Lost 3 of last 5 before flipping into this streak
Miami sent Janson Junk to the mound looking for his third straight win as a club, and while he wasn't sharp, the Marlins had more than enough offense and bullpen work to cover for him. Washington countered with Jackson Kent, who came in with an 8.03 ERA and needed a clean outing just to keep his club in it.
Jackson Kent
(1-3)·5.55 ERA
Aug 18 @ Rangers
L
3.2IP
5ER
3K
3BB
84P
08/23 Lineup
Janson Junk
(6-9)·4.00 ERA
Aug 17 @ Phillies
L
5.0IP
2ER
2K
2BB
88P
08/23 Lineup
Kent lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 3 earned runs before the Nationals' pen leaked 3 more of its own, while Junk got dinged around but leaned on a Miami bullpen that's held up even with Anthony Bender's rehab paused and William Kempner on the 60-day IL. The Marlins are fighting for wild-card position, and a series sweep of a sub-.500 club is exactly the kind of game they can't afford to drop, per SI's Marlins coverage.