MARLINS
Looking for the ever so slightly favored Marlins to take care of the Nationals tonight. Florida is undefeated at RFK this year and the Fish will score this victory.
These two division rivals have been playing vastly different baseball of late. While the Nationals are just 5-14 in their last 19, the Marlins are 14-6 in their last 20 games despite dropping two of three over the weekend in what was a competitive series versus the Red Sox.
Florida has won nine of its last 15 road games and is 13-7 away versus this Washington franchise the last three seasons. I like how Ricky Nolasco has pitched since joining the rotation from the pen. He has a 2.94 ERA in eight starts and it drops to 2.14 in his four highway trips to the hill.
He's won two of his last three starts after holding the Devil Rays to three runs in 6 1/3 last week. Conversely, veteran Pedro Astacio is set to make his 2006 debute tonight after spending time on the DL with a right forearm strain. He was so-so in his five-game rehab assignment (4.71 ERA) and he won't be able to go deep tonight.
The Nats aren't hitting (.246 last seven) and the bullpen has control problems. Florida is playing the better baseball right now and the Marlins will get it done this evening.
Looking for the ever so slightly favored Marlins to take care of the Nationals tonight. Florida is undefeated at RFK this year and the Fish will score this victory.
These two division rivals have been playing vastly different baseball of late. While the Nationals are just 5-14 in their last 19, the Marlins are 14-6 in their last 20 games despite dropping two of three over the weekend in what was a competitive series versus the Red Sox.
Florida has won nine of its last 15 road games and is 13-7 away versus this Washington franchise the last three seasons. I like how Ricky Nolasco has pitched since joining the rotation from the pen. He has a 2.94 ERA in eight starts and it drops to 2.14 in his four highway trips to the hill.
He's won two of his last three starts after holding the Devil Rays to three runs in 6 1/3 last week. Conversely, veteran Pedro Astacio is set to make his 2006 debute tonight after spending time on the DL with a right forearm strain. He was so-so in his five-game rehab assignment (4.71 ERA) and he won't be able to go deep tonight.
The Nats aren't hitting (.246 last seven) and the bullpen has control problems. Florida is playing the better baseball right now and the Marlins will get it done this evening.
