Opposite dugout: Despite lofty expectations, poor pitching has Fish reeling

Manager: Mike Redmond (3rd year)

Record: 5-11

Last 10 games: 4-6

Who to watch: 2B Dee Gordon (.348/.361/.435 with 9 RBIs, 9 stolen bases), RF Giancarlo Stanton (4 HR, 14 RBIs), 1B Michael Morse (2 HR, 7 RBIs), SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.311/.338/.410 with 1 HR, 10 RBIs), RHP Dan Haren (1-1, 3.32 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting of 2015; 6-13 in 2014

Pitching probables:

April 24 - RHP Jordan Zimmermann vs. RHP Mat Latos, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
April 25 - RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Tom Koehler, 4:10 p.m., MASN
April 26 - LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Dan Haren, 1:10 p.m., MASN2

Series breakdown:

The Marlins were among the busiest teams this offseason, inking right fielder Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year, $325 million contract, signing ex-National Michael Morse as a free agent, and trading for pitchers Dan Haren and Mat Latos to stabilize the rotation. Martin Prado was brought in to play third base and speedy second baseman Dee Gordon came in to provide an element of speed atop the lineup.

They were a trendy pick to surprise in the National League East, but things haven't exactly worked out. The Marlins won only three of their first 14 games, opening day starter Henderson Alvarez is on the disabled list with right shoulder and elbow problems, and manager Mike Redmond is on the hot seat, a candidate to be the first major league manager fired in 2015. But Miami has won its last two games, and now only shares the cellar in the NL East, which may temporarily stop chatter about Redmond's status.

Gordon is doing his job by setting the table with a team-high 24 hits and seven stolen bases, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria has upped his average to .310 with a six-game hitting streak that included a 4-for-4 day Thursday, and Stanton has four homers and 14 RBIs to lead the Marlins, but no one else in the lineup is producing with any consistency. Guys like Prado, center fielder Marcell Ozuna and Morse have track records, so the expectation is they will heat up as the season goes on. Ditto for players like young center fielder Christian Yelich, who has been slow out of the gate.

Latos, who starts Friday night, has been a major disappointment. He didn't get through a full frame in his Marlins debut, exiting the game after 2/3 of an inning with an unsightly 94.50 ERA. He's winless in three starts, but has shaved his ERA down to 10.24, though he's yet to get past five innings. Lifetime against the Nationals, Latos is 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in seven starts. The boo birds have been out at Marlins Park, and the native son of Coconut Creek High School in Fort Lauderdale needs a good start to build on.

Injuries to Alvarez and Jose Fernandez, who is expected back sometime around mid-season after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery have put the pressure on the rest of a makeshift rotation that's still trying to find its way and has the second-worst ERA in the majors.

Saturday's starter, right-hander Tom Koehler, had two productive starts before being touched for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last outing. He's sometimes been effective against the Nats, and has a 2-3 record and 4.03 ERA in five career starts against them.

For a while, the Marlins didn't know whether another former Nat, righty Haren, would report after being traded to Miami by the Dodgers, who footed his entire $10 million 2015 salary as part of the deal. Haren wanted to stay on the West Coast near his family, but the lure of a eight-figure salary was too much to ignore, and he eventually reported to spring training and bonded with his new teammates. Haren has gone at least six innings in each of his three starts this season and has posted a 33-3 record and 2.76 ERA in seven games (six starts) versus the Nationals in his career. He's got the best ERA of any of the Marlins' current starting rotation members.

Last year, the Marlins went 6-13 against the Nationals. The Fish expected to do much better in 2015, but their early season struggles may indicate that they're ripe for the picking. The key is keeping the Fish off the bases and limiting the damage that Morse and Stanton can do. If Gordon and Hechavarria can ignite the offense, Stanton and company can do damage because it will be tougher to pitch around them.