Nationals at Marlins 9/18/20 - Game 2 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Washington Nationals travel on the road to Marlins Park to take on arguably the biggest surprise team in the MLB this season, the Miami Marlins. The Nationals have lost three of their last four capped off with a 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Tampa Bay Rays; the loss dropped them to 18-29 on the year and are well out of the playoff picture sitting 9.5 games back of the division-leading Braves. The Marlins have won four of their last six games but are coming off a 5-3 home loss to the Red Sox, dropping them to 25-23 on the season. 

Miami is led by first baseman Jesus Aguilar who in his first year on the Marlins leads the team in batting average (.278), RBIs (29), and is tied for the team lead in homeruns with 6. On the other side of the infield is third baseman Brian Anderson who is tied with Aguilar with 6 homeruns and has driven in 27 runs this year. The Marlins are a middle of the pack offense in the MLB this season averaging 4.49 runs per game to rank 20th while batting .245 as a team.

The Nationals offense has been solid this season coming in with a .260 team batting average 7th in the MLB and averaging 4.66 runs per game to rank 16th in scoring offense. The Nationals are led by young superstar Juan Soto, who is batting .342 and leading the team with 11 homeruns and 31 RBIs. Shortstop Trea Turner is putting together another solid year batting .344 to rank 5th in the MLB, he’s hit 9 homeruns and driven in 28 runs this year. 

Miami has not announced a starter yet for the second game of the doubleheader but come in with a team ERA of 4.61 to rank 18th in the MLB this season. 

Getting the ball for the Nationals will be Patrick Corbin (2-5, 4.10 ERA) who has had a bit of a letdown year after his impressive 14-7 record and 3.25 ERA last season. Corbin showed glimpses of what he can do his last timeout, going 7 strong allowing just 2 runs while striking out 8 and walking none.