The Washington Nationals are looking to build on their recent offensive performance despite suffering a fifth consecutive loss, falling 4-3 to the New York Mets on Thursday. In a late-game surge, the Nationals scored three runs in the ninth inning, showing signs of potential with four hits, though they ultimately left the tying run stranded on third base.
June has been particularly challenging for the Nationals offense, with only 15 runs scored in their first nine games this month. By contrast, the Mets have hit an impressive 23 home runs. Prior to the ninth-inning rally, the Nationals had gone an unproductive 22 innings without scoring. Manager Dave Martinez expressed optimism, saying, “I loved the at-bats that last inning. So we’ve got to take that, come back tomorrow and start those at-bats from the first inning on. Those at-bats were great.”
The Nationals will have an opportunity to regain their momentum as they begin a three-game series against the Miami Marlins this Friday night at home. Over the next seven games, they will also face the Colorado Rockies, who currently hold the worst record in Major League Baseball.
On the mound for the Nationals will be left-hander Mitchell Parker, who holds a 4-6 record with a 4.44 ERA. Although he has struggled recently, going 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA in his last three starts, Parker showed promise in his most recent outing by allowing only two runs, one of which was earned, over six innings against the Texas Rangers. He aims to continue this upward trend against the Marlins, a team he has historically performed well against, posting a 2.01 ERA in four career starts versus them.
Starting for the Marlins will be right-hander Edward Cabrera, who is seeking to bounce back from a loss against the Tampa Bay Rays where he allowed three runs in four innings. Cabrera has been the subject of trade rumors but brings a 3.89 ERA into this matchup against the Nationals.
The Marlins enter this series having lost three of their last four games and eight out of ten, including a recent series against the Pittsburgh Pirates where they dropped two out of three. Rookie Heriberto Hernandez stands out among the Marlins’ recent performances, showcasing his potential with two hits in the last game, including his first major league home run.
The upcoming series presents a promising opportunity for the Nationals to uplift their performance and leverage home-field advantage against a Marlins team also struggling to find consistency.
This combination of recent offensive awakening and facing a team with its own issues gives both clubs a critical chance to turn around their seasons.