Marlins vs. Nationals: Start time, how to watch, game thread and Fish Picks—June 24, 2021

Welcome to Thursday’s Marlins (31-42, +15 RD) vs. Nationals (35-36, -10 RD) game thread. The Fish are on the verge of surpassing their 2020 win total.

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Picks are only valid if submitted to us prior to first pitch.

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Nationals Lineup

1. LF Kyle Schwarber
2. SS Trea Turner
3. RF Juan Soto
4. 1B Josh Bell
5. C Yan Gomes
6. 3B Starlin Castro
7. 2B Josh Harrison
8. CF Víctor Robles
9. RHP Joe Ross (2021 season stats: 4.54 ERA, 5.07 FIP, 22.5 K%, 38.1 HardHit% in 67.1 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: The Nats are in the midst of their hottest stretch of the season, having won nine of the last 10 games...Kyle Schwarber homers in 9.8% of his plate appearances against right-handed pitchers, the highest rate among all MLB qualifiers...I was surprised to find that Ross hasn’t made a start against the Marlins since May 21, 2016. He has an incorporated a four-seam fastball into his pitch mix since then, but his style hasn’t changed much overall...This will be Starlin Castro’s first game in Miami since leaving the team via free agency.

Marlins Lineup

1. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
2. CF Starling Marte
3. 1B Jesús Aguilar
4. RF Adam Duvall
5. SS Miguel Rojas
6. LF Jesús Sánchez
7. C Jorge Alfaro
8. 3B Jon Berti
9. RHP Cody Poteet (2021 season stats: 3.90 ERA, 4.93 FIP, 23.0 K%, 40.0 HardHit% in 27.2 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: Garrett Cooper (lumbar strain) is expected to play the second game of his minor rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A Jacksonville. It’s possible that he’ll be ready to be activated from the IL by the end of the weekend...Jordan Holloway (groin strain) completed his rehab assignment, but he’ll remain in Jacksonville. The Marlins will consider recalling him when a rotation opening presents itself...Chisholm is 3-for-his-last-30 at the plate with zero extra-base hits. Unless he bursts out of that slump tonight, he’s a logical candidate for a rest day/reset against veteran lefty Jon Lester on Friday...The well-rested pitchers available in the Marlins bullpen (haven’t pitched in at least two days) are Anthony Bender, Richard Bleier, Ross Detwiler, Dylan Floro, Yimi García and Zach Pop.

How to watch/listen/follow

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Watch on Bally Sports Florida or listen to the radio broadcast on 940 WINZ.

Hector Rodriguez (@Hector_Baseball) is at LoanDepot Park as a credentialed reporter and will handle the game recap article.

All four Marlins full-season minor league affiliates are also in action. Follow @FishProspects for notes and highlights.

Fish Picks

Please submit your picks for the following props. The contest locks at first pitch.

1. Which team throws the fastest pitch? (Nationals/Marlins)
2. Over/Under 17.5 total hits? (Over/Under)
3. Over/Under 6,500 announced attendance? (Yes/No)
4. Will there be any runs scored in the sixth inning? (Yes/No)
5. Who wins? (Nationals/Marlins)