Nationals @ Marlins: Game Preview

Nationals vs Marlins

7:10 PM Marlins Park

MASN-1

Story Lines:

• Bad blood between Ozzie and Harper after last game.  With Zambrano on the mound things could escalate. 
• Sean Burnett appear to not be bother by elbow soreness as he pitched in the 8th yesterday.
• Nats look to take 3 of 5 in Miami and really deal a blow to the Marlins playoff hopes.

Pitching Match Up:

• Edwin Jackson
• 5-4 with a 3.73 ERA.
• Last time against Miami he surrender 1 run over 6.2 innings in a losing effort.
• Over the last two starts his ERA has risen from 2.91 to 3.73.

• Carlos Zambrano
• 4-7 with a 4.20 ERA.
• Has struggled with command, surrendering 53 walks on the season.
• Gave up 3 runs over 6 innings last start against the Nats.

Who to Watch:

• Adam LaRoche
• Batting .257 against Zambrano with 5 RBIs in 43 plate appearances.
• Went 1-4 last game against Miami, with a run scored.
• Has the second most strikeouts (81) on the team, behind Espinosa.

• Omar Infante
• Batting .231 with a HR against Jackson lifetime.
• Went 0-4 with a walk in yesterday's game.
• Also left 5 men on base yesterday.

Keys to the Game:

1. Fluster Zambrano.  He has been controlling his emotion of late, but can still be rattled.
2. No Easy Outs.  Take a few pitches as Zambrano has struggled with location this season.
3. Run Support.  In 3 of Jackson's 4 losses the Nats only scored 1 run.