Joe Ross (5-5, 3.64 ERA) and Tom Koehler (11-14, 4.08 ERA) take the hill in the second of a two-game series between the Washington Nationals (2-1) and the Miami Marlins (1-2) at Nationals Park. The Marlins won the last game 6-4, and Miami leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday, Apr. 10 and can be seen on MAS2 and FSFL.
Ross will take the hill after recording 76.2 innings last year, closing out the season with a 5-5 record, 3.64 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts. Daniel Murphy (.364 ) kept up his hot start Thursday, going 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Koehler will pitch for the Marlins. Last season he pitched 187.1 innings last season, going 11-14 with a 4.08 ERA 1.37 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. Giancarlo Stanton (.308 ) has been successful at the plate to the start the season, going 2 for 5 Thursday with one run.
The odds for Washington and Miami are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently not available. Washington is one of the best in the NL in terms of walks, earning an average of 5.3 per game.
The Marlins are tough outs for opponents, ranking fifth in the NL with 11.0 hits per game.
The Marlins have the edge in the season series, 1-0.
Predictions: SU Winner – WAS
Notes
The Nationals managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Marlins who are coming in with a 1-1 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When outhit, both the Nationals and the Marlins have records of 0-1.
Both falling near the bottom of the league based on total home runs this season, Washington ranks 22nd with three homers and Miami is 27th with one.
Ranking 18th, Washington is in the bottom half of the league in hits, notching 7.33 per game. Miami ranks in the top five with 11.00.
Washington ranks at the top of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage of .000. Miami ranks near the bottom at 22nd with an OPS of .794.
The Marlins are 1-2 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Nationals are 1-0 when they allow at least one homer.
