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Current Series
3 game series vs Nationals @ Marlins Park
Washington Nationals Monday, Apr 15, 2013, 7:10 PM EDT Jordan Zimmermann vs Wade LeBlanc
Complete Coverage > | ||
| Tue 04/16 | 7:10 PM EDT | |
| Wed 04/17 | 7:10 PM EDT | |
The Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals go head-to-head in the first of a three-game series. The Fish were swept by the Nationals the last time these two teams met, but will their fates be the same again? Find out starting tonight when Wade LeBlanc faces Jordan Zimmermann.
Pitching Matchup
| Proj Win% | Proj ERA | FIP | ERA | Marlins | Nationals | ERA | FIP | Proj ERA | Proj Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .426 | 4.63 | 3.17 | 3.27 | LeBlanc | Zimmermann | 2.08 | 3.68 | 3.55 | .549 |
The Marlins' LeBlanc may be the most successful non-Fernandez story on the team as of right now. Of all the starting pitchers not named Jose Fernandez on this team, only LeBlanc's 3.27 ERA matches his corresponding FIP and xFIP measurements to a decent amount. While Ricky Nolasco and Kevin Slowey teeter on impending collapses, LeBlanc and his 21.7 percent strikeout rate are keeping him and the Marlins alive in games, while the lack of home runs is similar to what he did last season. He should allow a few more dingers, but if the strikeouts and walks remain, he will still be a very good pitcher.
The Nationals will throw out Jordan Zimmermann, who dominated the Marlins in his first start but also gave up the team's first run of the season. So there's that.
Lineup
| Order | Player | Proj wOBA vs. RHP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juan Pierre | .301 |
| 2 | Chris Coghlan | .313 |
| 3 | Placido Polanco | .298 |
| 4 | Greg Dobbs | .286 |
| 5 | Justin Ruggiano | .314 |
| 6 | Rob Brantly | .302 |
| 7 | Adeiny Hechavarria | .275 |
| 8 | Donovan Solano | .277 |
The Marlins will once again be without Giancarlo Stanton, who still has a sore right shoulder, and Austin Kearns, who is still recovering from an irregular heartbeat that kept him out of Sunday's game. At least now, both Ruggiano and Coghlan will be in the lineup rather than just the hapless Coghlan. Still, the lineup looks bleak, and it might struggle badly versus the Nationals.
Notes
- I will not be back until 8:30 PM thanks to a lecture from 6 PM to 8 PM. Keep the thread warm for me guys.
- In case you'd like to see the preview from the other side of the coin, Jared Book of Federal Baseball has you covered with a series preview and a quick interview with yours truly,
Bold Prediction: Nationals def. Marlins 5-0