Nationals @ Marlins: Game Preview (7/14)

 Nationals vs Marlins

7:10 PM Marlins Park

MASN-2

Story Lines:

• If you asked the Nats who their best pitcher is, Gio would be the answer.  Same goes with Marlins and Buehrle.
• Harper is rocking an eight game hitting streak at the moment.

Pitching Match Up:

• Gio Gonzalez
• 12-3 with a 2.92 ERA.
• Pitched 6 innings of 3 hit, 1 run baseball last start.
• Has not faced Miami this season.

• Mark Buehrle
• 8-8 with a 3.25 ERA.
• Has had three straight starts with 7+ strikeouts.
• Last start he pitched 7.2 innings of shutout baseball.

Who to Watch:

• Adam LaRoche
• Hitting .429 lifetime against Buehrle.
• Leads the team with 53 RBIs.
• Went 3-4 last game against Miami.

• Emililo Bonifacio
• Hitting .333 lifetime against Gonzalez.
• Has 20 stolen bases this season.
• Also has 0 HR and 6 RBIs this season.

Keys to the Game:

1. Contain Hanley.  He got embarrassed by Harper last night and will be looking for revenge.
2. Focused Gio.  He is a South Florida native pitching for the first time in Miami in his career.
3. Work the Count.  Get Buehrle out of the game early.  It's going to take a ton of pitches to do this.