Lile's 2-homer game caps series win over Marlins
Daylen Lile went 3-for-3 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI as the Nationals closed out a series win over Miami, and James Wood is expected back from the injured list this week before Washington hosts Atlanta tonight.
Lile's 2 homers cap series win over Miami
Daylen Lile went 3-for-3 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI, and Erik Tolman struck out 4 over 2 scoreless innings, as the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 6-3 on August 31 to close out the series. The win moved Washington to 66-74 and left the club 4-1 in its last 5 games.
Marlins9-2Marlins5-4Marlins2-6Marlins6-3The series opened with a 9-2 win on August 28 and a 5-4 win on August 29 before Miami rallied for a 6-3 win on August 30 — the Marlins scored 6 runs in the ninth inning after being held scoreless through the first 8, according to @TalkinBaseball_. Washington answered by taking the finale 6-3 on August 31 to win the series 3-1.
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James Wood is expected to play in at least one more rehab game this week before returning from the 10-day injured list, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports. Wood has been out since early August with an oblique strain, and his return would restore a middle-of-the-order bat to a lineup that has scored 6 or more runs in 3 of its last 5 games.
CJ Abrams started at second base and batted leadoff Sunday against the Marlins, Zuckerman also reports. Cade Cavalli is considered fine after being struck in the calf by a comebacker Saturday, manager Blake Butera said, and Richard Lovelady pitched in a bridge game Friday as he continues working back from a triceps injury, MLB.com reports.
Upcoming
Jake Irvin (2-8, 5.62 ERA) takes the mound as the Nationals host the Braves tonight, looking to build on a last start in which he struck out 6 but walked 6 over 4.1 innings against Colorado on August 27. Atlanta counters with AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, 5.93 ERA), who allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits over 5 innings against the Dodgers on August 26.
Atlanta is favored at Nationals Park, and the market expects a high-scoring game — unsurprising given Irvin's 5.62 ERA and Smith-Shawver's 5.93 ERA. If Washington is going to cover, it likely comes from the bats keeping pace in a track meet rather than either starter shutting the other side down.