Opposite dugout: Without Stanton in lineup, Marlins struggle to create offense

Manager: Dan Jennings (1st season)

Record: 51-77

Last 10 games: 3-7

Who to watch: 2B Dee Gordon (.333/.358/.417 with 45 SB), SS Adeiny Hechevarria (.280 with 48 RBIs), 1B Justin Bour (12 HR, 42 RBIs), RHP Tom Koehler (8-12, 3.98 ERA), RHP A.J. Ramos (2.80 ERA, 22 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 5-4

Pitching probables:

Aug. 28: LHP Adam Conley vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN
Aug. 29: RHP Tom Koehler vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7:05 p.m., MASN
Aug. 30: LHP Brad Hand vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Marlins:

The Marlins look considerably different from the club that last met the Nationals in late July. First baseman Michael Morse and starting pitchers Mat Latos and Dan Haren were shipped out at the non-waiver trading deadline as Miami tried to get younger and cheaper. The rebuild is apparently under way as the Marlins attempt to stay out of the National League East cellar, where they're battling the Phillies for the worst record in the division. Still, they're 26 games under .500 and have lost six of seven.

Even without the injured Giancarlo Stanton, whose broken wrist hasn't allowed him to complete a batting practice session against live pitching to date, the Marlins can be pesky. A lot of that has to do with second baseman Dee Gordon at the top of the order, getting on base and providing RBI opportunities for whoever is behind him in the lineup. So far, Gordon is second to Bryce Harper in the NL with a .333 average and has stolen 45 bases, second in the NL to Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton. Shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria is having a nice season at the plate and in the field, but he's more of a complementary player, not someone to build an offense around.

With Morse gone, Stanton out, Marcell Ozuna ineffective and left fielder Christian Yelich battling a bruised right knee, first baseman Justin Bour has made the most of the opportunity to play and is the only Marlin aside from Stanton with double-digit home runs. After seven seasons in the minors, Bour is flourishing with regular at-bats. He's got 12 homers and 41 RBIs. Injuries have opened up playing time for veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is slashing .314/.380/.429 in August. But manager Dan Jennings is trying a lot of different lineup combinations, hoping something clicks offensively.

Most times, that doesn't happen. The Marlins rank 29th in home runs (91), slugging percentage (.374) and total bases (1,609) and runs scored (472), meaning the offense isn't producing enough. Pesky is one thing, consistent production is another. But when you're without your big stick, that's what happens. Stanton's absense has created a trick-down effect, and the result isn't pretty. The offensive struggles have overshadowed an overperforming pitching staff that does the best it can with meager run support.

Left-hander Adam Conley, who starts Friday's opener, was a second-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. He was inserted into the rotation after going 9-3 with a 2.52 ERA at Triple-A New Orleans and has gone 0-1 in his last three starts though the Marlins have posted a 2-1 record in those games. Like most young pitchers, Conley relies heavily on his fastball, throwing it 64 percent of the time with spotty results. Opponens are slashing .288/.350/.462 overall, with left-handers posting a .333/.462/.476 line. On the road, he's had trouble, as a .364/.400/.606 slash line suggests. He's money in the first inning, limiting foes to a .192 average, but yields a .389 average with runners in scoring position. He doesn't go deep in his starts - reaching six innings just once - and has never faced the Nationals.

Tom Koehler is 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in three starts versus Washington this season, and 3-5 with a 4.28 ERA in eight career starts against the Nats. But he's lost six decisions since his last win, July 3 at Chicago against the Cubs, and has a 6.51 ERA in five August starts. A fastball/curveball pitcher, he's had trouble late in games, with opponents slashing .371/.436/.600 in the seventh inning or later, and with runners in scoring position, when foes rip him at a .318/.398/.545 clip. But he's held opponents to a .264 average on the road. In four career starts at Nationals Park, the right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.87 ERA. But when a 3.98 ERA is the team's best, you've got some issues.

Left-hander Brad Hand gets the call in the series finale and hopes to continue a stellar August that has seen him go 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five starts. Against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25, he picked up a win with eight innings of two-run ball without issuing a walk. However, he's never had much success against the Nationals, going 0-5 with a 7.71 ERA in nine career games (seven starts) and 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in five games (four starts) in D.C. Hand is primarily a fastball pitcher - like 70 percent of his pitches - and opponents are hitting .275 against him, with right-handed hitters slashing .300/.339/.425. He's struggled on the road, with a .331/.370/.438 slash against, and in the first inning, when foes go .350/.402/.467.

If they can get six innings out of their starter and turn the game over to the bullpen, the Marlins may have a chance. Miami's relievers have a 3.54 ERA, good for seventh in the NL, and have blown the sixth-fewest saves (16) in the league, though only one major league club has fewer saves. Most of those hiccups came early in the season, before A.J. Ramos took over as closer.