Opposite dugout: Injuries have cost Marlins in otherwise strong season

Manager: Don Mattingly (1st season)

Record: 74-75

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (.312), 3B Martin Prado (.311 with 70 RBIs), LF Christian Yelich (.300 with 19 HR, 90 RBIs), CF Marcell Ozuna (23 HR, 72 RBIs), RF Giancarlo Stanton (25 HR, 71 RBIs), RHP Jose Fernandez (15-8, 2.99 ERA), RHP A.J. Ramos (37 saves, 3.05 ERA)

Season series vs. Nationals: 5-7

Pitching probables:

Sept. 19: RHP A.J. Cole vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 20 : RHP Tanner Roark vs. RHP Jose Fernandez, 7:10 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 21: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Tom Koehler, 7:10 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Marlins:

For much of the season, the Marlins were the surprise of the National League East. In his first season in Miami, manager Don Mattingly had the Fish playing some inspired baseball. Then injuries hit, a lack of depth was exposed and the Marlins regressed to their norm. Instead of fighting for a postseason berth against the Nationals this week, the Marlins will try to postpone a Nats' celebration after clinching the NL East. But even if they can accomplish that task, the Fish are just delaying the inevitable. But give them credit for playing much better than a lot of observers expected this season.

Aside from seeing ageless Ichiro Suzuki notch his 3,000th career hit in early August, there haven't been a lot of offensive highlights for the Marlins. Two big bats that have been injured - right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (groin strain) and first baseman Justin Bour (right ankle sprain) - have recently come off the disabled list and are back in the lineup. Despite being limited to 110 games this season, Stanton still leads Miami with 25 home runs. In 83 career games against the Nationals, he's slashed .301/.389/.646 with 23 home runs. Mattingly has been batting Stanton second in the lineup to get him additional at-bats as the season winds down. Boar has done a lot of damage against Washington pitching, too - eight homers and 37 RBIs in just 37 games. Third baseman Martin Prado has enjoyed a nice resurgence with the Marlins, hitting .311 and driving in 70 runs. Left fielder Christian Yelich has 19 homers and a team-high 93 RBIs, while All-Star center fielder Marcell Ozuna has 23 homers and 72 RBIs.

Pitching has kept the Marlins afloat this season, even if they've had to patch a rotation together at times. Lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who signed a five-year deal worth $80 million in the offseason, will come of the disabled list after missing time with a left elbow sprain and start Monday's opener, his first game since July 20. Chen won only one of his last six starts before being sidelined and was the loser against the Nats on April 20. There's been talk of the Marlins shutting down ace Jose Fernandez if they fall out of contention, but he'll start Tuesday's game. He's an incredible 28-2 with a 1.53 ERA in 41 career home starts, and the right-hander has won his last two outings and has a career-best 15 victories. He's been perfect against the Nationals, posting a 9-0 record and 1.13 ERA in nine career starts, his most victories against any opponent. Right-hander Tom Koehler, Wednesday's scheduled starter, has had a quietly effective year, logging 30 starts with a 9-11 record and 3.96 ERA. But he's had problems with the home run ball, allowing 19 in 166 innings and nine in his last seven outings. Bryce Harper has six homers against Koehler to go along with a .345/.441/1.000 slash line off him. That's a matchup the Marlins would like to avoid.

Though closer A.J. Ramos has 37 saves in 40 chances, the All-Star has struggled in the second half, when all of his blown saves have occurred. His 1.39 WHIP and 3.05 ERA are not the kind of stats dominant closers pile up.