Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals Game 1 – 9/18/20 MLB Pick, Odds, and Prediction
2020-09-18 17:10:00 EDT
The Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins meet Friday in MLB action from Marlins Park.
This matchup will be the first game in a Friday doubleheader, and the first meeting in a five-game weekend set between these teams. The Nationals are coming off two games with the Rays, falling 6-1 Tuesday and winning 4-2 Wednesday. As for the Marlins, they just played the Red Sox. After splitting the first two games in that series, on Thursday Miami was defeated 5-3 to lose the set. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Nationals have a few key hitters in their lineup this season, but the team hasn’t been able to keep the averages up. Trea Turner and Juan Soto have been the team’s best offensive forces so far. Turner is hitting .344 with 38 runs, 66 hits, nine homers and 28 RBI. As for Soto, he’s hitting .342 with 29 runs, 11 homers and 31 RBI in 2020.
In the Friday starting pitcher role, the Nationals will send out Erick Fedde. In his nine games this season (six starts), Fedde is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. In his MLB career, Fedde is 7-10 with a 5.32 ERA and 119 Ks in 181.0 innings total.
Over on the Marlins’ side, they were only able to score in one inning in the Thursday loss, and were out-hit by Boston 10-7. Garrett Cooper was the only Miami player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run. Starting pitcher Jose Urena went 5.2 innings with five hits and two earned runs.
It looks like the Marlins are sending out Sixto Sanchez for the start on Friday in game one of the doubleheader. This year Sanchez has pitched 32.0 innings with a 3-1 record, a 1.69 ERA, 29 strikeouts and five walks.
The Nationals are 7-1 in their last eight opening games of a doubleheader and 32-15 in their last 47 games versus a team with a winning record. Washington is 7-15 in their last 22 games overall and 4-10 in their last 14 games as a road underdog.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are 6-0 in their last six games following a loss and 4-1 in their last five games overall. Miami is 4-1 in their last five games versus the National League East and 4-1 in their last five home games.
Pick: I’m probably going to lean toward the Marlins here. Fedde has had his moments this season, but right now he doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence on the mound. He hasn’t won a game since August 14, but did strike out a season-high five batters in his last start. Fedde was pretty good with six hits and two runs in five innings against the Braves in that one. Still, I think the Miami offense can counter and bang out a win in game one of the Friday doubleheader.
