Game 123 lineups: Marlins at Nats

If the Nationals are serious about getting back in the National League East race, and building some momentum from last night's victory in St. Louis, they need to start beating beatable teams, beginning with the three-game series against the Marlins that begins tonight on South Capitol Street. Miami has dropped five straight and eight of nine games overall, and is 3-8 against the Nats this season.

There's no better person to have on the mound than right-hander Max Scherzer, who will try to add to his major league-leading 15 victories and 227 strikeouts. Scherzer is 3-0 in the second half with a 1.32 ERA and 0.824 WHIP.

He's been money against the Marlins, winning all three of his 2018 starts against the Fish. His 3.43 ERA against Miami may seem high, considering the opponent is languishing in last place in the NL East, but he's twice allowed four runs against the Marlins - during a six-inning stint in a 9-5 win on May 25 in Miami and in seven innings in an 18-4 romp in D.C. on July 7. In a July 27 start at Marlins Park, he allowed an unearned run on three hits in eight innings during a 9-1 victory.

Righty Dan Straily, who pitches for the Marlins, has one win in eight starts since July 1, pitching to a respectable 3.97 ERA and .236 batting average against in that span. In nine of his 19 starts, the Marlins have scored three or more runs for him, so support has been an issue.

In seven lifetime starts against the Nationals, he's 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA, including an 0-1 mark and 4.91 ERA in four career starts in D.C. Matt Wieters is 6-for-10 with two homers and four RBIs off Straily, while Bryce Harper is 2-for-16 with two RBIs and Daniel Murphy is 1-for-13 with an RBI.

Murphy is hitting .417 (15-for-36) during a nine-game hitting streak, his longest of the season.

We will find out tonight the status of right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, who had an MRI this morning on his right wrist, which was injured in a tumbling play at the plate two days ago.

MIAMI MARLINS AT WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 86 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field

MARLINS
RF Rafael Ortega
C J.T. Realmuto
3B Brian Anderson
1B Derek Dietrich
2B Starlin Castro
LF Austin Dean
SS JT Riddle
CF Magneuris Sierra
RHP Dan Straily

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
CF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
C Matt Wieters
RHP Max Scherzer