Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth are back, Jonathon Papelbon is on the way, but none of that helped Washington on Tuesday in a 4-1 loss at Miami.
Zimmerman was 2-for-3 at the plate in his return to the lineup, and Werth was 1-for-4. The Nats also got a 1-for-3 night out of Anthony Rendon, but Jose Fernandez and three Marlins relievers forced Washington to leave 10 runners on base, and the Nationals were 0-for-4 on the night with runners in scoring position.
Fernandez (4-0, 2.53 ERA) gave up a run on four hits in six innings of work, striking out five and walking four.
Jordan Zimmerman (8-6, 3.36 ERA) took the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out two and walking two.
The big news of the day for the Nats was the trade for Papelbon (2-1, 1.59 ERA, 17 saves/0 blown saves in 2015).
Papelbon waived the no-trade clause in his contract with the Philadelphia Phillies to come to Washington, and in agreeing to the trade he also agreed to terms with the Nats on a contract for the 2016 season.