Series Preview: Washington Nationals battle Miami Marlins for second in the East

The Washington Nationals (18-20, 8 GB, NL East) face the Miami Marlins (17-21, 9 GB, NL East) in a three-game series that begins on Friday.

Schedule

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Game 1: Friday, 7:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Foster Griffin (3-1, 2.27 ERA, 1.08 WHIP)
• MIA: Robby Snelling: first start in 2026

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Game 2: Saturday, 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Zack Littell (1-4, 7.24 ERA, 1.61 WHIP)
• MIA: Janson Junk (2-3, 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP)

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Game 3: Sunday, 12:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Cade Cavalli (1-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.70 WHIP)
• MIA: Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 4.01 ERA, 1.28 WHIP)

Bats to watch

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Washington Nationals

• SS CJ Abrams: 9 HRs, 33 RBIs, .290 BA/.933 OPS, 1.8 WAR
• RF James Wood: 10 HRs, 27 RBIs, .243 BA/.908 OPS, 1.1 WAR
• RF Joey Wiemer: 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, .310 BA/.946 OPS, 0.8 WAR

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Miami Marlins

• SS Otto Lopez: 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, .340 BA/.882 OPS, 1.8 WAR
• C Liam Hicks: 9 HRs, 34 RBIs, .319 BA/.956 OPS, 1.7 WAR
• 2B Xavier Edwards: 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, .328 BA/.870 OPS, 1.5 WAR