The Washington Nationals open a 4-game series tonight in Washington, D.C. against the Miami Marlins. They have had the upper hand on the Nats for most of the season. Can the Nats reverse course and win a series against Miami?

Maybe we would feel more optimistic if LHP Jackson Kent wasn’t the starter in tonight’s series opener — but there’s a reason we play the game. Hopefully this is Kent’s night to shine. Kent is 0-2 with an 8.03 ERA in his three MLB starts. He has averaged just 4.0 innings per start in the process. His last start was over the past weekend in Miami where he exited the game at 4⅔ innings in a 1-1 tie. The problem was that Kent left two inherited runners on-base, and Trevor Williams relieved him. In a matter of minutes, Williams allowed both inherited runners to score with two outs.

In Miami, Kent pitched with enough effectiveness in the 5ᵗʰ inning until he walked a batter with two outs and was not pulled — then gave up a single and manager Blake Butera went to the bullpen. Then the wheels came off when Williams entered the game.

Almost every game the Nats have played the Marlins this season, the Nats have been in the game into the middle-or-late innings. They just have had a difficult time closing out games.

Can the Nats get on a winning streak as there are just 25 games remaining in this regular season. To avoid a 90 loss season, the Nats need to win 10 more games. And to get to a winning season, the Nats would have to go 19-6 to finish the season.

❝Today was awesome. Could not be prouder of the effort. … The bullpen was great today. … They showed a ton of energy. They played unbelievable.❞

— said manager Blake Butera after yesterday’s game

On offense, the Nats have the most runs scored in MLB this season at 704 runs, and that is an impressive 5.18 runs per game. With the Nats pitching giving up 4.69 earned runs per game, the difference is really those pesky unearned runs due to the errors. Overall, the Nats have a +12 run differential on the season.

Here is manager Blake Butera‘s bullpen chart:

The FanGraphs WAR chart is now large in its sample size. You can certainly start to extrapolate the numbers for the full-season. The OAA defense stat is now giving us a picture of what the Nats have — and don’t have.

Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals

Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 6:45 PM EDT
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan radio and via the MLB app. On Sirius/XM, tune to Channel 176 for the home broadcast and the road team is online only.

Photo by Intrepid /Nats.Talk