Miami @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Miami 5, Washington 2

The Washington Nationals are clinging to a two-game lead in the National League East and were hoping to spend the weekend padding that advantage against the stumbling Miami Marlins. The Marlins did not do the Nationals any favors by dropping three of four to the second-place Atlanta Braves earlier in the week and somehow pulled out a split of a doubleheader in Washington on Friday, “exploding” for a total of nine runs in the two contests.

Miami entered the series last in the majors in runs and had averaged 2.1 runs over its previous 15 games. But behind Jose Reyes, the Marlins matched their highest total since July 17 with a 5-2 victory in Friday’s nightcap. Reyes went 3-for-5 in the contest to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 22 games. The Nationals are working a new piece into their offense in Jayson Werth, who is back after nearly three months on the shelf with a wrist injury. Werth scored a pair of runs during a 7-4 victory in the opener while batting cleanup. Manager Davey Johnson will move Werth around both in the outfield and the batting order depending on matchups.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSFL (Miami), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Mark Buehrle (9-10, 3.60 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-6, 2.28)

Buehrle’s name was one of many bandied about by Miami prior to the trading deadline but the veteran left-hander remained in town and will try to snap a three-start winless streak. Buehrle has not pitched longer than five innings in any of his last three turns and was knocked around for six runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 frames in a loss at Atlanta on Monday. His last win came over Washington on July 14, when he allowed one run in seven innings.

Zimmermann was named the National League’s Pitcher of the Month for July after going 4-0 with a 0.97 ERA. The 26-year-old right-hander has put up 11 straight quality starts and has not allowed more than one earned run in any of his last seven turns. Zimmermann won at Miami on July 13, yielding four hits in six scoreless frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. C Kurt Suzuki, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Friday, is expected to join the Nationals on Saturday.

2. Marlins INF/OF Emilio Bonifacio re-injured his left thumb in the ninth inning on Friday. Manager Ozzie Guillen expects him to miss the remainder of the season.

3. Washington LF Michael Morse has hit safely in 12 straight games.