Marlins at Nationals
The Washington Nationals will have to once again address their bullpen issues before the start of the postseason, but at least the offense is around to carry the team. The Nationals will try to build up a big enough lead to avoid another blown save when they host the Miami Marlins in the second of a three-game series on Saturday night.
Washington suffered its major league-leading 26th blown save on Friday but was saved when Anthony Rendon delivered a two-run, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, giving the team a 7-6 victory. The Nationals stayed within 5 1/2 games of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East with the victory and own the top wild card spot - 2 1/2 games clear of the second-place Chicago Cubs and six games ahead of third-place Philadelphia. The Marlins, who own the worst record in the NL at 48-86 and fell for the 14th time in the last 18 games with Friday's setback, got a two-run, go-ahead home run from All-Star Starlin Castro in the top of the ninth before suffering the letdown. Washington will try to muster some early support for right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Saturday while Miami turns to righty Pablo Lopez.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN 2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-6, 4.41 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (15-5, 3.63)
Lopez had a string of six straight starts without a loss come to an end when he returned from a two-month stay on the injured list due to a shoulder strain and was reached for four runs on five hits and a walk in five innings against Cincinnati on Monday. The 23-year-old Venezuela native surrendered a total of five runs in 25 innings over his four turns prior to going on the IL. Lopez struggled at Washington on May 24, when he was ripped for four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Strasburg is coming off back-to-back strong performances and struck out 10 over six innings while holding the Cubs to two runs and five hits in a win on Sunday. The former No. 1 overall pick did allow a home run against Chicago and is up to seven blasts surrendered in August after keeping the ball in the park in all five of his July outings. Strasburg had little trouble with Miami at home on July 3, scattering two hits across 7 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out a season-high 14 and earning the win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals LHP Sean Doolittle (knee) tossed a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Class A Potomac on Friday.
2. Miami OF Harold Ramirez homered in each of the last two games, bringing his season total to nine.
3. Rendon is 9-for-15 with five RBIs and five runs scored in the last four games.