Game 52 lineups: Nats at Marlins

In Game 2 of today's doubleheader and the series finale, the Nationals send out left-hander Ben Braymer for his first major league start.

Braymer has made two big league appearances, Aug. 28 and Sept. 15, and has gone 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, with four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. He has allowed six hits and walked two.

Manager Davey Martinez said Braymer has been stretched out and he expects 60 to 75 pitches from him. The southpaw made 26 starts last season in the minors, going 4-10 with a 4.53 ERA between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno.

Martinez's advice to Braymer was be himself and try not to do too much with each pitch. The manager said having veteran Kurt Suzuki as his catcher for Braymer's first start is important.

"I want him to go out there and just relax and get one out every time," Martinez said via Zoom. "Go pitch to pitch and work on just getting outs and focus on the here and now with him. He's going to be fine. He's got three pretty good pitches. I told him use them all. Suzuki is going to catch him. Suzuki's got experience. Just follow Suzuki's call and if there is something that you want to do that he calls, ultimately you control the game. You know who you are. Do what you do best."

With the three-pitch mix, Braymer has built confidence in his changeup, something he worked on during spring training. He also throws an 89-90 mph fastball and curveball.

"The biggest thing is strike one, getting ahead of hitters," Martinez said. "He is really good when he gets ahead of hitters. We will watch him. We will keep an eye on his mechanics. I know he has talked to (pitching coach) Paul Menhart about doing different things. He's typically a strike-thrower. He pounds the strike zone. I'd like to see him attack the strike zone on both sides of the plate, not just live away. We will watch all those things."

Martinez gave Victor Robles rest in Game 1, but he will start in center field Game 2.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MIAMI MARLINS - GAME 2
Where: Marlins Park
Gametime: 4:35 p.m.
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
LF Juan Soto
DH Asdrúbal Cabrera
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Josh Harrison
3B Carter Kieboom
1B Jake Noll
RF Michael A. Taylor
CF Victor Robles
LHP Ben Braymer

MARLINS

2B Jon Berti
CF Starling Marte
1B Garrett Cooper
3B Brain Anderson
DH Jesús Aguilar
LF Matt Joyce
RF Lewis Brinson
C Chad Wallach
SS Jazz Chisholm

LHP Braxton Garrett