Marlins at Nationals
The bullpen still looks shaky, but at least the Washington Nationals' offense is picking up some of the slack. The Nationals will try to put together back-to-back wins following a five-game slide when they host the Miami Marlins on Saturday in the second of a four-game series.
Washington managed an average of 3.6 runs during the five-game slide and watched the bullpen's major league-worst ERA balloon to 7.02 - nearly one run worse than the next-closest team. Six relievers combined to allow a total of five runs over five innings on Friday, but the offense exploded with four homers - two in the decisive eighth inning - among 14 hits in the 12-10 victory. The 10 runs matched a season high for the Marlins, who had a season-best six-game winning streak come to an end in the loss. Washington will try to keep the hits coming against budding ace Sandy Alcantara on Saturday while countering with veteran lefty Patrick Corbin.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (2-4, 4.25 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (4-2, 3.25)
Alcantara is coming off the finest performance of his young career after holding the New York Mets to two hits in his first career shutout on Sunday. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native needed only 89 pitches while striking out eight, walking one and inducing 10 ground balls in a dominating effort. Alcantara was not quite as strong in a pair of outings against Washington last September, when he was charged with a total of nine runs on 13 hits and 11 walks over eight innings to suffer a pair of losses.
Corbin had a string of three straight quality starts come to an end when he was reached for four runs and six hits - two homers - over five innings in a loss at New York on Monday. The 29-year-old was strong in his previous two outings, when was allowed a total of one run and seven hits across 15 innings to earn a pair of wins. Corbin is seeing Miami for the first time since Sep. 24, 2017, when he allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals manager Dave Martinez was given a vote of confidence by the front office on Friday.
2. Marlins OF Curtis Granderson scored a run in each of his last four games.
3. Washington RHP Anibal Sanchez (hamstring) threw a simulated game on Friday and could be headed for a rehab assignment early next week.