The MIAMI and the WASHINGTON will both be gunning for a victory on 7/5/2018 at 7:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
GAME: Miami Marlins (36-52) at Washington Nationals (42-43)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, July 05 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
| ROT | TEAM | PS | OU | RL |
| 901 | MIAMI | 8.5 (-175) (-180) |
9 (-110) | 170 -180 |
| 902 | WASHINGTON |
TV: 7:05 PM
LINE: -180
PREDICTION: WASHINGTON , MIAMI
Oddsmakers currently have the WASHINGTON listed as -180 point favorites versus the MIAMI, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.
The Washington Nationals were penciled in as heavy preseason favorites to run away with the National League East title, but that hardly has been the case a little more than halfway into the campaign. Losers of a season high-tying five in a row and 17 of their last 22, the Nationals hope to get back on track Thursday, when they open a four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins.
“Let’s get this thing going. I think we all know we’re capable of playing better baseball. It’s time we do it. It’s do or die now,” Trea Turner told reporters following Washington’s players-only meeting after being unceremoniously swept by Boston with Wednesday’s 3-0 setback. Turner recorded his second straight multi-hit performance in the defeat to improve to 13-for-32 with seven runs scored in his last seven contests for the Nationals, who reside seven full games behind division-leading Atlanta. Starlin Castro, who has recorded 19 hits in his last 10 games, erupted for eight singles and three runs as Miami improved to 4-2 in its last six after taking two of three from Sunshine State-rival Tampa Bay. The 28-year-old Dominican hasn’t fared as well in his career versus Thursday starter Jeremy Hellickson, however, going 0-for-6.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 2.63)
Lopez fought off his nerves to win his major-league debut after allowing two solo homers in six innings of a 5-2 triumph over the New York Mets on Saturday. “As soon as I stepped out of the dugout, I just kept looking up in the stands, and they were so big, all the way up to the sky. This is where I wanted to be,” the 22-year-old Venezuelan told reporters. Lopez has been on the fast track this season, posting a combined 1.44 ERA in stints with Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans.
Hellickson tasted defeat for the first time this season on Saturday after allowing three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 3-2 setback at Philadelphia. The 31-year-old was making his first start since returning from a lengthy stint on the disabled list due to a right hamstring strain. Hellickson owns a 4-3 record and 2.88 ERA in 12 career starts versus Miami, highlighted by a pair of shutouts against the club in 2016 while pitching for the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami SS J.T. Riddle went 13-for-37 with four multi-hit performances during the team’s 10-game homestand.
2. Washington begins a stretch of playing 21 of 27 contests against sub-.500 teams on Thursday.
3. Marlins LF Derek Dietrich has struck out eight times during a 3-for-25 slump over his last eight games.
PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Marlins 2
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