Game 44 lineups: Nats at Marlins

MIAMI - Manager Dusty Baker spoke Friday prior to Game 1 about how important it was to try to win the series after splitting 10 games against the Fish to begin the season.

Baker said winning games in the division is critical against the Marlins as they do not face them again until late September after today's contest.

The two teams continue to trade blows and play even baseball following the Marlins' 3-2 win Saturday night. Today will finally put one team ahead of the other in the season series after they split the first three matchups this season.

Going back to last year, the Nationals have a slim 16-15 overall lead in their past 31 meetings.

Right-hander Max Scherzer (4-3, 4.01 ERA) gets the call against left-hander Adam Conley (3-2, 3.40) in the series finale.

Scherzer has allowed eight home runs in his last three starts so pitching in Marlins Park may help a bit. But he lost here April 21 when he allowed five runs and eight hits with one homer over five innings, falling 5-1 for his first loss of the season. It was the most hits he has allowed in a start so far this season and the five frames matched the shortest outing of his nine starts.

Scherzer is 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA in seven starts over his career against the Marlins and 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts at Marlins Park.

Conley is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA and four homers allowed in three career starts against the Nationals. He is 0-1 with a 8.22 ERA in two starts versus Washington this season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MIAMI MARLINS
Where: Marlins Park, Miami
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, WUSA-9
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, XM 186 (home), Internet 869 (away), MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

Nationals (26-17)
CF Ben Revere
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
SS Danny Espinosa
RHP Max Scherzer

Marlins (22-20)
LF Ichiro Suzuki
3B Martin Prado
2B Derek Dietrich
RF Giancarlo Stanton
CF Marcell Ozuna
1B Justin Bour
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
C Jeff Mathis
LHP Adam Conley