One uncomfortable theme early in the season for the Nationals has been their inability to win when Max Scherzer starts, going 2-9 in those games. Scherzer has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of those 11 starts, three or fewer earned runs in nine of those starts.
In his first meeting with the Marlins April 20, Scherzer allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits in a 9-3 loss.
Manager Davey Martinez addressed the importance of playing well for Scherzer today as the club seeks its first series sweep of the season.
"It's important to win every game," Martinez said. "But knowing that Max is going to keep us in the game, our biggest thing is just go out there and try to score first and kind of ease (into) everything, not feel like he has to go out there and pitch a shutout. Just go out there and have fun and do his thing. We are swinging the bats well, so hopefully today we score some runs for him."
Wednesday's matchup at Atlanta still does not have a Nationals starter listed to face former Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman. Martinez likely will choose between Kyle McGowin and AnÃbal Sánchez.
"I was watching Sánchez run (today). He looked pretty good," Martinez said. "I'm going to talk to trainers and see where he's at. And then we'll go from there."
Sánchez has been on the injured list since May 17 with a left hamstring strain.
* Nationals left-hander Sean Doolittle has been hittable recently, and even had to warm up Sunday in the late going of a 9-6 Nats win. Is Martinez concerned about fatigue due to Doolittle's heavy use becoming an issue before June 1?
"No. I talked to Sean," Martinez said. "He's in a good place, really is. He knows the mistakes he made and he corrected something with Paul (Menhart), so he's our closer, 100 percent. (When he) gets a chance to save a game, he's going to go out there and save the game."
* Veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman still has not been cleared to run full out, but has made progress this week after a setback in recovery from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Zimmerman will not travel with the team so that he can focus on rehab.
"He's going to get back on the (Alter-G treadmill) machine and run a little bit," Martinez said. "He felt like he was close. He started running and it started aching up a little bit, so we backed him off just to make sure we don't have any major setbacks. He feels close, so hopefully he'll get back to running and he feels better and we get him back on the field."
The Alter-G is an anti-gravity treadmill that allows the patient to feel 80 percent lighter, minimizing impact on the foot as he runs.
"I want him to stay back and continue work on strengthening until he is able to run," the skipper said. "Then we will make a decision whether he comes on the road or just meets us back here."
* Right-hander Trevor Rosenthal was back in the clubhouse today, but when the Nats leave for Atlanta tonight, he will go back to continue his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg.
"Tomorrow he's pitching in Harrisburg, yeah," Martinez said. "He was going to go today, but they had a day game so we pushed him back to tomorrow. We are hoping he can go back-to-back, but we'll see how he does tomorrow."