Washington @ Miami preview
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Last Meeting ( May 30, 2012 ) Washington 3, Miami 5
The Washington Nationals have been the talk of baseball this season, but they have traditionally been kept quiet by Josh Johnson. The Miami Marlins ace has posted a terrific 8-0 lifetime record versus the Nationals, complete with a 1.13 WHIP while limiting the club to a .221 batting average. Jordan Zimmermann, who has been done in by a lack of run support this season, will counter for division-leading Washington when the National League East rivals open a three-game set in Miami.
Miami will attempt to get by without All-Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair loose bodies from his right knee. Stanton leads the Marlins with 19 homers and 50 RBIs. With the slugger sidelined for four to six weeks, all eyes in South Beach will shift to newly acquired Carlos Lee and Logan Morrison - who is riding an 11-game hitting streak - to provide some pop to the lineup.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FSFL (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (5-6, 2.61 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Josh Johnson (5-5, 4.06 ERA)
Zimmermann's record may scream mediocre, but his ERA is the fifth best in the National League. The 26-year-old yielded just one earned run for the third straight start in a no-decision versus Colorado on Sunday. Zimmermann struggled in his last outing versus Miami, allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings en route to a 5-3 loss on May 28.
Johnson recorded a quality start in a victory over Washington on May 30. The 28-year-old permitted three runs on seven hits in six innings to pick up the victory. Johnson did struggle in his last trip to the mound, yielding five runs on six hits in a no-decision versus Milwaukee on July 4.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins 3B Hanley Ramirez exited Sunday's game after cutting his hand while punching a cooling fan in the dugout. Ramirez, who is mired in a 2-for-22 slump, is expected to play on Friday.
2. Washington's Ian Desmond earned an invitation to the All-Star Game, but elected to sit out the Midsummer Classic with an ailing left oblique. Desmond, who leads all shortstops with 17 homers, has five in his last 10 games.
3. Miami is expected to activate center fielder Emilio Bonifacio from the 15-day disabled list prior to the contest. Bonifacio has been sidelined since May 20 with a sprained left thumb.