Game 40: Nats at Marlins

Richard Lovelady will be on the mound for the first inning, opening for Zack Littell, as the Nationals try to reach the .500 mark

For the sixth time this season, the Nationals are using an opener. But for the first time, it’ll be someone other than PJ Poulin.

With Poulin having already pitched the last two days in relief – he got the win Thursday and then the save Friday – Blake Butera is instead going to give the ball to Richard Lovelady to open this afternoon’s game against the Marlins. The well-traveled left-hander has a bit of a strange stat line so far through eight appearances with the Nats. He’s only allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings, but he’s allowed 15 batters to reach base (seven hits, seven walks, one hit-by-pitch). Also, lefties are batting .320 against him, while righties have hit only .226. That, though, includes his six appearances with the Mets.

The Nationals will just hope Lovelady can navigate his way through the top of the Marlins lineup before Zack Littell takes over. Littell was markedly better in his last appearance, when he started the third inning after Poulin pitched the first two and wound up retiring 11 of the 13 batters he faced. He was as encouraged after that one as he has been at any other point this season, so perhaps that was a sign he’s finally turned a corner.

Butera will also hope his lineup produces more than it did Friday night, when a three-run top of the first was followed by eight zeros. Luis García Jr., who did come off the bench to pinch-hit late in the 3-2 win, is back in the lineup for the first time in six days, batting second behind James Wood. They’ll be going up against Marlins right-hander Janson Junk, who in spite of his unfortunate name has been very effective, with a 2.82 ERA and 1.043 WHIP in seven starts this season.

As you already know, I’m not in Miami this weekend. Please continue to keep up the lively conversation in the comments section, and I’ll have a recap of the series after Sunday’s game.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MIAMI MARLINS
Where: loanDepot Park
Gametime: 4:10 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
DH James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
3B Brady House
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
CF Jacob Young
DH José Tena
C Drew Millas
2B Nasim Nuñez

LHP Richard Lovelady

MARLINS
2B Xavier Edwards
SS Otto Lopez
DH Liam Hicks
LF Kyle Stowers
1B Connor Norby
CF Jacob Marsee
RF Owen Caissie
3B Leo Jiménez
C Joe Mack

RHP Janson Junk