Marlins at Nationals
Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has more wins against the Miami Marlins than against any other opponent and has been a sure thing against them for nearly four years running. Strasburg looks to win his 11th consecutive decision in the series when the host Nationals play the second of a three-game set against the Marlins on Wednesday night.
Trea Turner delivered his third walk-off hit of the season, a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth to lift Washington a 3-2 win over Miami on Tuesday -- its seventh victory in eight meetings versus the Marlins since May 24. Juan Soto clubbed a two-run homer as Nationals improved to 11-3 in their last 14 to close within six games of first-place Atlanta in the National League East. Miguel Rojas continues to wear out Washington's pitching, improving to 7-for-8 in the past two meetings after collecting three hits and an RBI Tuesday. All-Star right-hander Sandy Alcantara attempts to bounce back from a rocky outing in a rematch from last week against Strasburg and the Nationals.
TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-7, 3.86 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (9-4, 3.88)
Alcantara, the fifth rookie in franchise history to be selected for the All-Star Game, lost to Washington for the second time this season on Thursday, surrendering a season-worst three homers while allowing six runs over six innings. That pushed his career record to 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA against the Nationals, who tagged the 23-year-old Dominican for five runs (four earned) over five innings in a loss at Washington on May 25. Soto is 5-for-12 with a pair of homers off Alcantara.
Strasburg was not overly sharp in Miami on Thursday, giving up four runs in seven innings, but his teammates rallied to earn him the victory to boost his record against the Marlins to 10-0 over his last 12 starts. The former No. 1 overall draft pick is 6-1 over his last eight turns overall, but he has been nicked for 13 runs and 21 hits over his last three trips to the mound. Rojas is 10-for-23 with four doubles against Strasburg, who is 19-7 in 33 starts versus the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals have homered in 16 straight games, tying the franchise record set by Montreal in 1999.
2. Marlins RF Brian Anderson is day-to-day with an elbow contusion after exiting Tuesday's game.
3. Soto has four homers in eight games after hitting only one in the previous 21 contests.