The Washington Nationals look to maintain their recent offensive momentum as they face the Miami Marlins on September 26, 2023. Following a dominant 15-7 victory that matched their best offensive performance of the season, the Nationals have won three consecutive games and six of their last seven. With a record of 59-84, Washington is striving to avoid a 100-loss season while preparing for the future.
In their recent game, the Nationals showcased their offensive capabilities, tying their season high for runs and hits with a total of 19. They are now under the leadership of interim manager Miguel Cairo, who has guided the team to a record of 22 wins and 31 losses since taking over after Dave Martinez was dismissed on July 6. The team’s performance under Cairo has been nearly identical to that of their previous manager, with both maintaining a winning percentage of around .415.
One of the standout players in the recent victory was Dylan Crews, the club’s No. 2 overall draft pick in 2023. Crews, who is 23 years old, hit a home run and drove in four runs during the game. Despite a season batting average of .208, he has shown improvement lately, hitting safely in five of his last eight starts and matching his career high with three hits on Monday. Cairo expressed confidence in Crews, stating, “You’re going to fail in this game. It’s how you react to it… (Dylan) knows how to put things behind him. He’s going to be fine, and I believe in him.”
On the mound for the Nationals will be Mitchell Parker, who is set to make his 29th start of the season. Parker holds a record of 7-15 and a 5.87 ERA. He has struggled recently, going 0-5 with a 9.28 ERA over his last seven starts. In his previous outing against the Marlins on September 20, Parker allowed four runs (two earned) across 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision, although Washington ultimately won the game 10-5. In his career against Miami, Parker has a 1-1 record with a 3.86 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Marlins find themselves in a challenging position, having lost six of their last seven games and facing the prospect of a fourth losing season in five years. With a record of 66-78, Miami’s pitching staff has struggled, allowing at least 15 runs in a game for the third time this season and bringing their ERA to 4.79, which is the third worst in the National League.
Under the management of Clayton McCullough, the Marlins have made progress this season but will miss the postseason for the 29th time since their inception in 1993. The team, one of the youngest in the league with an average age of 26.5 years, is hopeful that their youthful roster will develop into a competitive unit in the coming years. One of their promising young players, Victor Mesa Jr., celebrated his 24th birthday by hitting his first career home run in the recent loss. McCullough noted, “We’ve had a great opportunity this year to see a lot of firsts for many of our young players.”
On the mound for Miami will be Adam Mazur, who is making his fourth start this season. Mazur has a record of 0-2 and a 5.74 ERA. In his previous encounter with the Nationals on September 2, he allowed five runs (four earned) over six innings, contributing to a 5-2 loss. In his career against Washington, Mazur holds a 1-1 record with a 6.55 ERA.
As both teams prepare for this matchup, the Nationals hope to build on their recent success, while the Marlins seek to regain their footing and finish the season on a positive note.
