Game 72 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Bell scratched)

The Nationals' two-game sweep in Philadelphia was both uplifting but also exhausting. Wednesday's 13-12 finale, in particular, used up every ounce of strength the Nats had, not to mention nearly every reliever on the staff. There's no rest for the weary, though, because after a flight south to Miami following the game, the Nationals are right back to work this evening in the opener of a four-game series with the Marlins.

These two division foes have met only three times so far this season, and the Nats swept that home series nearly two months ago. That means there are still 16 games to go between the two, which does make for something of an opportunity for the visitors this weekend, who have won nine of their last 10 and now get to face a last-place foe.

The Marlins don't hit much (they're 12th in the National League in runs scored), but they do pitch well (fifth in ERA). All four starters in this series boast ERAs under 4.00 and WHIPs under 1.125. Right-hander Cody Poteet, a 26-year-old rookie, is on the mound first tonight, facing a bunch of hitters who have never seen him before. As you know, this has sometimes been a problem for the Nationals in 2021.

So it's up to Joe Ross to hold Miami's lineup in check and put forth a quality start after a rough one last weekend against the Mets (five runs in five innings). Here's all you need to know about Ross this season: He has allowed zero earned runs in five of his 13 starts, two or fewer earned runs in nine of the 13. But he's allowed five or more earned runs three times. There's been no real middle ground for him. He's either been great or not good at all.

A win tonight would get the Nationals to the .500 mark for the first time since May 2, the day they swept the Marlins in D.C. That feels like an appropriate development, if it happens.

Update: Josh Bell was a late scratch from the Nats lineup for unspecified reasons. Ryan Zimmerman will now play first base and bat cleanup.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MIAMI MARLINS
Where: loanDepot Park
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
LF Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell Ryan Zimmerman
C Yan Gomes
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
CF Victor Robles
RHP Joe Ross

MARLINS
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
CF Starling Marte
1B Jesús Aguilar
RF Adam Duvall
SS Miguel Rojas
LF Jesús Sánchez
C Jorge Alfaro
3B Jon Berti
RHP Cody Poteet