Nationals at Marlins
Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has flustered the Miami Marlins to the tune of winning nine straight decisions while his 18 victories over the club are his most against all other major league teams. Strasburg aims to continue his dominating ways Thursday as the surging Nationals vie for a three-game sweep of the host Marlins.
Matt Adams launched a three-run homer and Anthony Rendon drove in a pair of runs Wednesday as Washington recorded a 7-5 triumph to improve to 7-2 in its last nine games. Trea Turner has three hits and scored as many times in the series and carries a six-game hitting streak into Thursday's contest versus right-hander Sandy Alcantara, against whom he is 3-for-9 with a double. Curtis Granderson ripped a three-run triple to highlight a four-run ninth inning Wednesday for Miami, which has dropped six of nine meetings versus the Nationals this season. Home cooking has been upsetting the stomachs of the Marlins, who enter the series finale having lost 10 of their past 12 such games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (8-4, 3.79 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-6, 3.51)
Strasburg improved to 18-7 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his career versus the Marlins after scattering two hits and striking out 11 in eight innings of a 5-0 romp on April 21. The 30-year-old has handcuffed Brian Anderson (1-for-10), Granderson (3-for-27, 10 strikeouts) and Castro (2-for-14, seven strikeouts), although Miguel Rojas (6-for-19) has gotten his licks in. Strasburg is also on a roll his last seven starts overall, as he upped his mark to 5-1 in that stretch after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory against Atlanta on Friday.
Alcantara yielded one earned run or fewer for the fifth time in seven outings Friday after allowing one on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia. The 23-year-old Dominican has struggled with his control, however, as he walked at least four batters for the third time in five trips to the mound. Alcantara fell to 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in three career starts versus Washington after permitting five runs in as many innings of a 5-0 setback on May 25.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami 1B Garrett Cooper has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 contests.
2. Washington OF Juan Soto saw his 10-game hitting streak come to a halt Wednesday.
3. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro is 0-for-8 in the series after hitting safely in 10 of his previous 11 contests.