Marlins vs Nationals Predictions and Picks

The Miami Marlins have been one of the best teams on the road in the majors this season. Their penchant for winning away from Marlins Park will be tested again later tonight when they play Game 1 of their series with the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Read on for more about this matchup. For more baseball, you can also check out our breakdown of Pirates vs. Cubs.

MLB World Series News and Previews

Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals Betting Preview

Where: Nationals Park, Washington, DC.

When: Friday, May 13, 2016, 7:05 PM ET

Line: Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals – view all MLB lines

TV Broadcast: ESPN

Betting on the Miami Marlins (18-15)

After going 6-3 at home in their last nine games, the Marlins take the road for just the second time this month. Playing away from Miami, however, isn’t exactly a discouraging scenario for the Marlins, as what their 10-5 road record thus far this season suggests .Furthermore, the Marlins have won seven of their last eight on the road.

On the mound for the Marlins for Game 1 of this series will be Tom Koehler, who is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts versus the Nats this year. Koehler (2-3, 5.83 ERA) was spectacular, albeit in a 4-3 loss to Philadelphia on May 7, when he gave up only one earned run on two hits in seven innings of work. It was a solid comeback for the right-hander, who was lit up with eight earned runs in just 2.1 innings of mound duty in a disastrous 14-5 loss to Milwaukee on May 1.

Expected to back up Koehler are Ichiro Suzuki and Marcell Ozuna. Suzuki has fared well in his past encounters with Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, as he’s hit 13-for-38 (.342) lifetime opposite the lefty. Ozuna, meanwhile, is batting .381 with three homers against southpaws this season.

Betting on the Washington Nationals (21-13)

Talk about a tough act to follow. Right after Max Scherzer’s monster 20-k performance in a 3-2 win over Detroit on Wednesday, Gio Gonzalez will get the ball for Game 1 of the Miami series.

Gonzalez is coming off perhaps his most unfortunate performance this year, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in an 8-5 loss to the Cubs on May 7. Gonzalez settled for a no-decision, however, to retain his 2-1 record to go with a 2.19 ERA on the season. Save for that forgettable start, Gonzalez has been stellar this year having allowed four earned runs in four outings prior the Cubs game.

Bryce Harper will be there to offer offensive support to Gonzalez. Harper has been a big thorn in the side of Koehler, going 9-for-29 with six home runs in his career opposite the Miami starter. Ryan Zimmerman, on the other hand, is 6-for-21 with two homers lifetime in the same matchup.

The Nationals are also looking to take advantage of Miami’s shaky bullpen that has a 4.11 ERA so far this month.