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Current Series
Nationals lead the series 2-0
| Mon 04/01 | WP: Stephen Strasburg (1 - 0) SV: Rafael Soriano LP: Ricky Nolasco (0 - 1) | 0 - 2 loss |
| Wed 04/03 | WP: Gio Gonzalez (1 - 0) SV: Rafael Soriano LP: Kevin Slowey (0 - 1) | 0 - 3 loss |
Miami Marlins Thursday, Apr 4, 2013, 4:05 PM EDT Wade LeBlanc vs Jordan Zimmermann Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 55.
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Get out the broom breakers, because the Miami Marlins are looking to bust up a sweep.
The Fish are trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals as they finish up their three-game series in Washington. Relevant to that cause, the Fish are also attempting to score a run this season. This season may be a bit more difficult to swallow without, well, runs. Please score some runs.
Pitching Matchup
| Proj Win% | Proj ERA | FIP | ERA | Marlins | Nationals | ERA | FIP | Proj ERA | Proj Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .428 | 4.61 | --- | --- | LeBlanc | Zimmermann | -- | --- | 3.42 | .565 |
Wade LeBlanc is coming off of a pretty solid 2012 season, and prior to the season, there was a very good chance he would end up being the team's second-best starter. The problem is that no team with Wade LeBlanc as their second-best starter can be expected to do well. LeBlanc, like Kevin Slowey before him, is a soft-tossing control type of pitcher, and the Marlins are hoping that recipe works well again against a surprisingly quiet Nationals lineup.
Jordan Zimmermann is the third ace-caliber starter on the Nationals' staff, though his stuff is overshadowed by Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. However, last year he put up a 2.94 ERA and 3.51 FIP en route to a solid 3.4-win season, so the Marlins' hapless lineup has yet another difficult pitcher to face.
Lineup
Once again, posting this in advance, so lineups have not come out yet. Fish Stripers, please assist with the lineup when they do come out.
With Zimmermann as a righty, expect Rob Brantly and Chris Coghlan back in the lineup as the platoon situation continues. Yes, that means Justin Ruggiano is out yet again despite his solid night at the plate. Given Casey Kotchman's injury last night, I also suspect there is a strong chance we will see Greg Dobbs in the first of many unwanted starts this season.
Notes
- I will not be present for the first few innings of the game, as I will be rushing home at the time to catch on at about the fourth or fifth inning hopefully.
Bold Prediction: Nationals def. Marlins 4-1