Marlins at Nationals
The Washington Nationals are surging toward the postseason with wins in 13 of their last 16 games and will play the next six at home against division foes as they attempt to keep the pressure on National League East-leading Atlanta. The Nationals host the NL-worst Miami Marlins on Friday for the opener of their three-game series.
Washington opened its eight-game homestand by splitting a two-game series with Beltway rival Baltimore after posting an 8-4 victory on Wednesday and enters this set atop the NL wild-card standings, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. The Nationals could avoid the one-game wild card by winning the NL East as they trail the Braves - whom they will play seven times in the first half of September - by 5 1/2 games. The Marlins are losers of 10 of their last 13 games and needed a walk-off home run from Harold Ramirez in extra innings on Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of Cincinnati at home. Miami will try to play spoiler behind Elieser Hernandez while Washington sends veteran rAnibal Sanchez to the mound on Friday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (3-5, 4.97 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Anibal Sanchez (8-6, 3.81)
Hernandez was strong in a win over Philadelphia on Sunday, when he allowed two runs and three hits - one homer - while registering five strikeouts over six innings. The 24-year-old has held the opposition to fewer than three runs in four of his last six outings. Hernandez, who battled a blister on his middle finger against the Phillies, suffered a loss at Washington on July 4 after yielding three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 frames.
Sanchez put together one of his best outings last Friday against the Cubs in Chicago, where he yielded two runs - one earned - and one hit with six strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings to notch the win. The Venezuelan averaged five frames over his previous four starts but was stretched out to a season-high 112 pitches against the Cubs. Sanchez lasted 5 1/3 innings at Miami on April 19 and suffered the loss after surrendering three runs on five hits and four walks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals LHP Sean Doolittle (knee) made it through a simulated game on Wednesday and could come off the injured list on Friday.
2. Miami C Jorge Alfaro has gone 12-for-22 with three home runs in his last five contests.
3. Washington RF Adam Eaton (knee) left Wednesday's game, but his X-rays came back negative and his is day-to-day.