The Washington Nationals defeated the Marlins in each of the prior two meetings this year.
The Miami Marlins have still yet to lose a series in the month of May after splitting a four-game set with the San Francisco Giants. The Marlins are currently 4-3 on what will be a 10-game home-stand and will finish the home-stand and the month of May with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. The Nationals head to South Florida after sweeping the Braves in Atlanta.
The Marlins enter the series with a record of 26-22 which is good enough for third place in the National League East. The N.L. East is led by the Nationals, who come in with a mark of 29-18. Washington holds a 2.5 game lead over the second place New York Mets and lead the Marlins by 3.5 games. It will be the first trip ever to Marlins Park for the Nationals and the last meeting between the two teams until after the All-Star break. The three-game series will get underway on Monday with a day game in honor of Memorial Day and conclude with night games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Season Series
Washington leads 2-0. The Nationals took the first two meetings of the season in Washington back in late April. The series was originally scheduled for three games, but the final game of the set was postponed due to rain. Washington pitched a 2-0 shutout in the first game before defeating the Fish on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Ian Desmond in the second.
Buehrle on a Winning Streak
Despite pitching well early on, Marlins’ left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle started the year just 1-4. Since then, Buehrle has won his last three starts and his last four decisions. Buehrle went 7 1/3 strong innings on Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Giants to improve his record to 5-4. His five wins is tied for best on the club with Ricky Nolasco. Neither Buehrle nor Nolasco will pitch in the series with Washington.
Jennings Gets First Career Win
In Miami’s 7-6 win over San Francisco on Friday night, rookie left-handed pitcher Dan Jennings picked up his first win as a big leaguer. Jennings pitched one perfect inning of relief in the victory to pick up a win in what was also his first major league decision. In 2 2/3 innings pitched this season, the rookie left-handed has still yet to allow a run.
Pitching Matchups
Monday – Jordan Zimmermann (WASH) 3-4, 2.47 ERA vs. Carlos Zambrano (MIA) 2-3, 2.85 ERA
Tuesday – Edwin Jackson (WASH) 1-2, 3.38 ERA vs. Anibal Sanchez (MIA) 2-3, 2.87 ERA
Wednesday – Chien-Ming Wang (WASH) 1-0, 3.00 ERA vs. Josh Johnson (MIA) 2-3, 4.87 ERA
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