Lineups Game 146: Nats vs. Marlins

The Nationals spent the last two nights facing a Braves team that desperately needs every win to beat the Mets and secure the last wild-card spot in the National League. The next four nights will see them face a Marlins team that has absolutely nothing left to win, so the intensity may drop a bit here this weekend.

The Nats have absolutely dominated Miami this season, winning their first eight head-to-head meetings before finally losing for the first time last week. They have a chance to cap off their dominant performance with at least three more wins this weekend, which would also put them closer to their goal of improving on their record from last year (71-91). (To do that, they'll need to go 7-10 the rest of the way.)

Mitchell Parker starts, and two of the rookies' strongest starts this season have come against the Marlins. The left-hander allowed two runs in 10 innings against them, despite not having played against them since June 16.

The Nationals' lineup faces an unknown: Darren McGaughan, a 28-year-old right-hander making just his third career start. McGaughan, who came off waivers from the Guardians earlier this summer, has a 5.14 ERA in 106 career Triple-A starts. He's no flamethrower: His fastball averages just 89 mph, and he throws more sweepers than anything else.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MIAMI MARLINS
Where: National Park
Playing time: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 79 degrees, wind 8 mph from right field

NATIONAL
SS CJ Abrams
by Dylan Crews
LF James Wood
DH Andrés Chaparro
3B Jose Tena
C Keibert Ruiz
2B Luis Garcia Jr.
1B Joey Gallo
CF Jacob Young

LHP Mitchell Parker

MARLINS
3B Connor Norby
DH Jonah Braut
1B Jake Burger
SS Otto Lopez
CF Cristian Pache
LF Kyle Stowers
David Hensley (born 1973)
C Nick Fortes
2B Javier Sanoja

RHP Darren McCaughan