Doug Fister dons new number, takes mound vs. Marlins

MIAMI - Doug Fister looks to reverse the theme of his season against the Marlins tonight. Since returning from the DL on June 18, Fister is 1-4 in six starts with a 4.72 ERA. The tall right-hander has surrendered four or more runs in four of those six outings, while opponents own a .324 batting average against him during the slide. Fister will look to get right against Miami, who he owns a 2-0 record with a 1.09 ERA in four career starts against.

After experiencing his best stretch of the season last week, Ian Desmond got off to a rough start Tuesday night. The veteran shortstop struck out in all four plate appearances for a staggering fifth time this year.

Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler makes his third start of the year against the Nats. He tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in an 8-0 shutout over Washington on April 26. Then Koehler ran into a red-hot Bryce Harper at Nationals Park on May 6. The young slugger launched three homers for the first time in a major league game, all in his first three at-bats off Koehler, to lead the Nats to a 7-5 win.

Newly acquired closer Jonathan Papelbon is in Miami with the Nationals. To make room for Papelbon, the Nats optioned left-hander Sammy Solis to Triple-A Syracuse. Papelbon will wear No. 58, the number previously worn by Fister, who will now wear No. 33.

For the Nationals:

2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Ian Desmond
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Jose Lobaton
RHP Doug Fister

For the Marlins:

2B Dee Gordon
3B Martin Prado
CF Christian Yelich
1B Justin Bour
C J.T. Realmuto
LF Derek Dietrich
RF Ichiro Suzuki
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
RHP Tom Koehler