Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) Washington 4, Miami 0

Washington has split its last six games, but it has managed to hold on to a three-game lead over red-hot Atlanta in the National League East. The Nationals haven’t set the world on fire offensively, but they have more than made up for it with a pitching staff that leads the majors in almost every key category. The Marlins, meanwhile, have had an even tougher time scoring runs, plating just three while dropping two of the first three in this four-game series. The season series between the clubs is even at four games apiece.

A pair of ballyhooed offseason acquisitions face off in Monday’s series finale. Edwin Jackson has been solid for a Washington staff that sports a 3.13 ERA, the lowest in baseball by a wide margin, and a 1.20 WHIP. Carlos Zambrano has been struggling of late for a Miami club that has fallen 10 games off the pace in the NL East. He’ll be looking for his first victory since June 3 — the Marlins have dropped his last six starts.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (5-4, 3.73 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Carlos Zambrano (4-7, 4.20)

Jackson had been on a roll before hitting a wall in his last two starts before the All-Star break. He avoided a loss at Colorado on June 28 despite being tagged for eight runs in three innings, and he was a winner on July 4 despite giving up four runs in 5 2/3 frames. Prior to that, Jackson had turned in seven straight quality starts, not allowing more than three runs in a game since May 2.

Zambrano had an ERA of 1.96 on May 18 and was still at 2.81 after winning at Philadelphia in early June, but he has allowed at least three runs in each of his last six outings. He has totaled just 27 innings over that stretch, giving up 27 runs (24 earned) on 33 hits and 24 walks. Zambrano is 9-4 with a 3.26 ERA in his career against Washington, including a win on May 28 (7 IP, 3 ER).

WALK-OFFS

1. Sunday’s 4-0 win marked the first time this season that Washington failed to get at least one extra-base hit. The Nationals had been the only remaining team in the majors with at least one in every game.

2. Jackson is 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA in six career starts against the Marlins. Miami INF Omar Infante is 7-for-13 against him with a double and a pair of runs batted in.

3. Washington is 18-10 against NL East opponents. Meanwhile, the Marlins are just 5-18 in their last 23 games against teams with winning records.