Nationals game blog: Max Scherzer seeks fourth win over Marlins

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

September 18, 2015, 1:34pm

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The Nationals have not been able to take advantage of opportunities presented to them at critical times this season.

Thursday night was another example.

With the Mets off, the Nationals could have jumped to seven games behind the leaders by taking down the Marlins on their home field.

Instead, the Marlins beat them 6-4. Miami has now defeated the Nationals nine out of 16 times they have matched up this season. That should not happen against a team that has lost 20 more games than they have won throughout the season.

Max Scherzer red sidebar.png But cast aside the race for a moment and relish in tonight's sweet pitching matchup between staff aces right-hander Max Scherzer and the Marlins wunderkind Jose Fernandez.

On September 12, Fernandez faced the Nationals in his return from a right bicep strain. He went five innings and allowed only two hits, no runs, one walk and struck out seven. He tossed 69 pitches and 43 for strikes. Anthony Rendon led off the game with a single and Bryce Harper added a fourth-inning leadoff base hit. That was it.

The Marlins shutout the Nationals 2-0.

But this is Fernandez's first appearance at Nats Park, and manager Matt Williams hopes that makes a difference.

Matt den Dekker gets the call in left field as Michael A. Taylor gets the day off.

Rendon has hit safely in nine straight games, while Jayson Werth has reached base safely in 26 straight games.