Washington Nationals vs Miami Marlins Prediction: There is little difference between these two teams

On Friday, the Miami Marlins and the Washington Nationals will square off against one another at Nationals Park for the first game of a Major League Baseball series. An analysis of the match, including an examination of the possible wagers, can be seen below.

After splitting their previous six games, the Washington Nationals are looking to get back on track. The Nationals currently have a 7.5-game deficit in the race for the wild card. The pitching staff for the Washington Nationals is ranked 17th in quality starts with 44 and 27th in ERA (4.89), WHIP (1.45), and WHIP, respectively. The offense of the Nationals ranks 21st in runs scored per game (4.33), 9th in batting average (.257), and 29th in home runs (121). While Lane Thomas leads the Washington Nationals in hits and runs batted in with 146 and 69, respectively, Joey Meneses and Dominic Smith have combined for 260 hits and 111 runs batted in. The next pitcher is Joan Adon, who has a record of 2-0 with a 5.25 earned run average and 20 strikeouts thus far this season. In his career versus the Marlins, Adon has a record of 11-2 with a 5.93 earned run average and 7 strikeouts.

After losing five of their previous six games, the Miami Marlins are in desperate need of a victory. The Miami Marlins are currently three games back of first place in the race for the wild card. The pitching staff for the Miami Marlins is currently ranked 17th in earned run average (4.23), 15th in walks allowed per nine innings (1.28), and 19th in quality starts (43). The offensive production of the Miami Marlins ranks 27th in runs per game (4.00), sixth in batting average (.258), and 27th in home runs (127). The Miami Marlins are led in hits and runs batted in by Luis Arraez, who has 172, while Bryan De La Cruz and Jorge Soler have combined for a total of 234 hits and 134 RBI. This season, Braxton Garrett has been dominant on the mound, posting a 7-5 record with a 3.96 earned run average and 135 strikeouts. In his career, Garrett has a record of 2-2 versus the Washington Nationals, with a 3.21 earned run average and 23 strikeouts.

Although the Miami Marlins should win this game and Braxton Garrett has had a solid season, the Marlins have been in freefall for the entirety of the second half of the season, and they just came off a game in which they didn't score for 10 innings. The Washington Nationals, however, have been one of the most profitable teams over the course of the past month, as well as the ones that have been piling up the wins as of late. Therefore, despite being favored on the road, I am definitely going to overlook the Miami Marlins as a favorite here. Hence, I expect the Nationals to be able to get the plus money here and get a close win at home.