Gina: Marlins fans, two straight wins over the Nationals, and today we chase the sweep. But we've got some serious questions about the bullpen and that lineup. Stay with us.
Wes: And we're going to tell you exactly how the Marlins finish this thing off.
Gina: Welcome back to Beatline, the Miami Marlins daily podcast. I'm Gina, and alongside me is the sharpest baseball mind in South Florida, Wes.
Wes: Let's go, Fish fans. We're riding high after yesterday's 4-2 win. Heriberto Hernández and Jakob Marsee went deep, Eury Pérez dealt five innings, and the Marlins took a 1-0 lead in this series.
Gina: Now it's a day game, a getaway day, and the Marlins can sweep the Nationals. Here's what we've got for you today: first, we'll break down the pitching matchup for today's series finale. Then, we'll dig into the key hitters and the bullpen situation, especially with injuries piling up. And finally, we'll give you our keys to the game and a bold prediction.
Wes: And we're going to check in on that prediction we made yesterday about Eury Pérez. He didn't quite go six, but he was solid.
Gina: Alright, let's get into it. Wes, we've got a rubber match today, a day game after a night game, and that always makes things interesting. Who's on the mound for the Marlins?
Wes: We don't have the official probables yet, but we can make an educated guess. Given the rotation, I'd expect to see Ryan Gusto get the ball. He's been solid in his last few starts, and he's been the guy they've turned to in these mid-rotation spots.
Gina: And what about the Nationals? They've got to be scrambling a little bit with their rotation. They've been using some openers and bullpen games lately.
Wes: Exactly. With Josiah Gray on the 60-day IL and James Wood on the 10-day, they're thin. I wouldn't be surprised if they go with a bullpen game today. That could be a huge advantage for our hitters if they can be patient and work counts.
Gina: So, we're looking at a favorable matchup on paper. But we've seen this team drop games they should win. What does Gusto need to do to keep the Marlins in it?
Wes: He needs to attack the zone early and get ahead of hitters. The Nationals have some young, aggressive bats, and if he falls behind, they can do damage. But if he can induce weak contact and let the defense work, he'll be fine.
Gina: And speaking of defense, we've seen some slick glove work from Xavier Edwards at second. That's been a difference-maker.
Wes: No doubt. Edwards has been steady all year, and that middle infield with Otto Lopez has been solid. They turn double plays and save runs.
Gina: Alright, so the pitching matchup looks good. But we've got some concerns on the offensive side. Let's talk about the bats in segment two.
Wes: Let's dive in. Yesterday, Hernández and Marsee both went deep. That's a great sign for a team that's been inconsistent offensively. But we need to see more from the middle of the order.
Gina: Yeah, Deyvison De Los Santos has been quiet lately. He's got the power, but he's been swinging at too many bad pitches. What does he need to do today?
Wes: He needs to show better plate discipline. He's chasing sliders out of the zone. If he can lay off those and force pitchers to come to him, he can drive the ball to all fields. And with the Nationals' bullpen likely covering multiple innings, he'll see a mix of arms, so he's got to be selective.
Gina: And what about the leadoff spot? Javier Sanoja has been getting on base, but he's been caught stealing a couple of times. Is that a concern?
Wes: It's a risk-reward thing. Sanoja's speed is a weapon, but he's got to pick his spots. With the Nationals' catcher, he might have a tougher time, so I'd like to see him be a little more conservative unless it's a clear steal situation.
Gina: Now, the bullpen. We've got some injuries there. Anthony Bender and Max Meyer are on the IL, and we lost a couple of arms. How do you feel about the bullpen for today?
Wes: It's a patchwork. We've got guys like Calvin Faucher, John King, and Victor Vodnik, but they've been inconsistent. The key is to get length from the starter. If Gusto can give us six or seven innings, we only need two or three guys out of the pen. But if he gets into trouble early, we could see a lot of moving parts.
Gina: Right, and we saw yesterday that Eury Pérez only went five. The bullpen had to cover four innings, and they did enough. But can we count on that again?
Wes: I'm a little nervous, to be honest. We've seen this group blow leads before. They need to throw strikes and trust their stuff. If they can do that, we're in good shape.
Gina: And injuries are a factor on the other side too. The Nationals are missing James Wood, and they've got some other guys banged up. That could work in our favor.
Wes: Absolutely. Their lineup is thinner than it was earlier in the year. We should be able to neutralize them if we execute.
Gina: Alright, let's shift to the keys to the series and our bold prediction. Stick with us.
Gina: So, Wes, what are the keys to winning today and sweeping the series?
Wes: First, get to the starter early. If it's a bullpen game, we need to score in the first three innings and put pressure on them. Second, we need a solid start from Gusto, even if it's just five or six innings with two runs allowed. And third, we've got to be clean defensively. No errors, because in a tight game, one mistake can cost you.
Gina: And what about the crowd? It's a day game, but the fans have been loud. Does that matter?
Wes: It does. The energy at loanDepot park has been real lately. When the team feeds off that, they play with more fire. I expect a raucous crowd today, especially with a sweep on the line.
Gina: Now, we made a bold prediction yesterday that Eury Pérez would go six innings and give up two runs. He only went five, so we missed on that. But we also said the Marlins would win 6-2, and they won 4-2, so we got the win but not the score. How do you feel about that?
Wes: I'll take the win. But today, I'm going to be more specific. I'm predicting that Ryan Gusto goes six innings and gives up just one run, and the Marlins win 5-1.
Gina: I like it. I'm going to say the bats stay hot. Heriberto Hernández hits another home run, and the Marlins win 6-3.
Wes: Let's see if we can get that sweep. It would be huge for our playoff push. We're sitting at 66-64, third in the East, and every win matters.
Gina: Absolutely. And with the Braves and Phillies ahead of us, we need to take care of business against the teams we should beat. Let's go get that sweep, Marlins fans.
Gina: That's all for today, folks. Thanks for listening to Beatline. If you want to hear more Marlins talk, subscribe, rate, review, and share this podcast with your buddies.
Wes: And don't forget to check back with us after the game for the full recap. Go Marlins!
Gina: Let's go Fish!