Washington Nationals Series Preview: Nats at Marlins (9/11-9/13)

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Gio Gonzalez (10-7, 3.96 ERA) vs. Jarred Cosart (1-4, 5.04) – 7:10 PM ET, broadcast on MASN2

After giving up 17 earned runs in his final four starts of August, Gio Gonzalez got his month of September off to a good start. Against the Braves on September 5, Gonzalez went six innings, gave up no runs on two hits, struck out ten batters, and walked four on 106 pitches. The ten strikeouts that Gonzalez had were a season-high.

The Nats’ left-hander did have four walks, but the offense gave him a 6-0 lead after the fourth inning. Gonzalez will be pitching at Marlins Park tonight, but he has a 4.81 ERA in 14 road starts this year (3.04 home ERA in 12 outings).

Against the Marlins this season, Gonzalez made one starts at Marlins Park on April 26. He went five innings, gave up six runs on ten hits, struck out eight, and walked one in a loss. In nine career starts vs. Miami, he is 6-3 with a 2.44 ERA. Ichiro Suzuki (.242, 1 HR, 20 RBI’s) is a .361 career hitter against Gonzalez with two RBI’s.

As for Jarred Cosart, the Marlins’ right-hander made his first start in over two months on September 6 against the Mets. In that game, Cosart went 4.2 innings, gave up one run on five hits, struck out three, and walked one on 88 pitches in a no-decision.

Before that last start, the 25-year-old right-hander was pitching for the double-A Jupiter Hammerheads and gave up seven runs over nine innings. Cosart, who was acquired via trade from the Astros in July 2014, was on the disabled list back in May due to vertigo. Last year, he won 13 games for Houston and Miami with a 3.69 ERA. In three career starts against the Nats, Cosart is 0-2 with a 3.63 ERA. Jayson Werth is 4-for-6 against him with a home run and a RBI.

Advantage: The key for Gonzalez in this game is going to be if he can limit his walks since he has 12 walks in his last five outings. In addition, Gonzalez only had four flyball outs in his last start against the Braves (lowest in an outing this season). It all depends on how the Nats can bounce back after a difficult series against the Mets, but I like Washington to take the first game in this series.

Next: Tomorrow's Matchup