Washington @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2013 ) Washington 0, Miami 7

With their playoff hopes dwindling, the Washington Nationals turn to a rookie to make his first major-league start as they continue a three-game series at the Miami Marlins on Saturday. Tanner Roark will get the ball for Washington, which managed only an infield hit en route to falling 7-0 in Friday's series opener. The setback, coupled with a win by Cincinnati, dropped the Nationals eight games behind the Reds for the second wild card in the National League.

Jose Fernandez allowed one hit in seven innings in the victory on Friday. When the standout rookie is not on the mound, the Marlins are 36-76. However, Miami has won four out of five contests, its best five-game stretch of the second half.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Tanner Roark (4-0, 1.19 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (3-5, 3.40)

Roark has thrown more than an inning in all but one of his nine relief appearances, including two that lasted at least four frames. He made 99 starts in the minors, including 11 this season for Triple-A Syracuse, with which he went 7-2 with a 3.60 ERA. A former Texas Rangers prospect, Roark tossed three scoreless innings in a pair of relief appearances against Miami last month.

Eovaldi has recorded 12 quality starts in 14 outings, including three straight - the last of which resulting in a gem at Atlanta on Sunday. He struck out six in eight scoreless innings to defeat the Braves. The 23-year-old has allowed five runs in 12 innings to split two starts against Washington this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals CF Denard Span was scratched from Friday's lineup due to a tight groin. He owns a career-high 17-game hitting streak.

2. Miami is 4-3 against Washington at home, compared to 0-6 on the road.

3. Washington SS Zach Walters recorded an infield hit in his first career at-bat Friday against Fernandez.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Nationals 4