Game Thread 126: Marlins at Nationals

Please leave any Icthy picks in the comments below. Remember, we introduced a new grand prize for the contest this season.

Matchup Summary

After we went out on a limb and predicted that the Marlins would snap their losing streak, their highest-scoring game of the month proved to be just enough. Bullpen struggles denied Wei-Yin Chen from picking up the W, but it was encouraging to see him compete in a road start.

That sets up this rubber match on Sunday (1:35 p.m. first pitch).

It’s an eerily similar pair of starting pitchers—José Ureña and Gio González have nearly identical stats overall, and both have trended in a bad direction lately after consistent success earlier in the season.

Ureña, of course, is coming off a one-pitch outing on Wednesday. Even though Major League Baseball issued a six-game suspension the next day, the right-hander has filed an appeal. He’s expected to drop that appeal after this game and serve the punishment.

More so than in previous years, J.T. Realmuto is seeing time at first base to preserve the wear and tear on his body. Since mid-June, he’s played that position 10 times with this matinee being his fifth start.

Thread Question: Who do you believe should get the opportunity the next time the Marlins find themselves in a save situation?