The visiting Miami Marlins will face their third consecutive left-handed starting pitcher and second straight rookie when they meet the Washington Nationals in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday.
Mitchell Parker (4-3, 3.21 ERA) is scheduled to make his 12th start of the season for the Nationals, who have won seven of eight and will be trying for the three-game sweep.
The Marlins couldn’t figure out the first two lefties they faced in the series.
MacKenzie Gore held Miami to one run and five hits over seven innings in the 8-1 win on Friday. DJ Herz followed with six shutout innings in a 4-0 win on Saturday, allowing just one hit while striking out 13 without a walk in gaining his first major league win.
“I really believe they’re starting to feed off each other,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said of his young pitchers. “They’re watching each other, they’re pulling for each other, but I think it’s, collectively, each guy wants to go out and do what the other guy did and it’s been fun to watch.”
Parker did not allow an earned run over 4 2/3 innings in his most recent start on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers. However, he was responsible for the four unearned runs that came across the plate after making a fielding error with two outs in the fifth inning.
Washington eventually won 5-4 in 10 innings.
“You know what, we got through it,” Martinez said. “I’m proud of him. He’s been pitching really well, and he’s been keeping us in games. He’s done well.”
Parker allowed two runs over seven innings in the start prior to that, but did not get the decision in the 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on June 6.
He faced the Marlins in his third MLB start on April 27 and allowed one run and six hits in four innings of the 11-4 win.
Jesus Luzardo (3-5, 5.11) is scheduled to take the mound in the series finals for the Marlins.
He earned the win last Tuesday after allowing two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-2 win against the New York Mets.
Luzardo was drafted by the Nationals in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft but was traded to the Oakland Athletics a year later before making his debut with the Nationals.
He has made six starts in his career against the Nationals, going 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA.
The Marlins, held to four hits on Saturday, missed out on their only opportunity to score in the game. In the eighth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. laid down a bunt to put runners on first and second with one out, and Otto Lopez walked with two out, but Tim Anderson struck out with the bases loaded.
“I don’t call for bunt hits,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said of Chisholm’s bunt. “It was on his own. It was a good play, got the winning run at the plate, the tying run at first base with really good speed, so a gapper ties the game, so it was a really good play by Jazz.”
Nationals outfielder Jesse Winker left Saturday’s game after he bumped his knee sliding back into second base.
“He’s getting an MRI tonight,” Martinez said following the game. I’ll know more (Sunday).”
–Field Level Media
