Game: Miami Marlins vs Washington Nationals

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, DC

TV: MASN

The Washington Nationals (64-80) will try to defeat the Miami Marlins (54-91) on Thursday at Nationals Park. The expected starting pitchers are Darren McCaughan and DJ Herz.

As a team, the Miami Marlins score 3.8 runs per game, which ranks 29th in baseball. They have scored 555 runs and hold a team OBP of .297. As a team, the Marlins have had 214 two-baggers and hit 133 balls out of the ballpark. They have 534 RBIs this year, along with 1,187 hits, while their batting average is .241. Miami has a slugging percentage of .373 and has been taken out of the game for strikes 1,247 times while walking 354 times.

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Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.38 and their pitching staff has posted a collective WHIP of 1.39. The Marlins’ pitchers have allowed 169 home runs and 750 runs (28th in MLB). Miami has allowed 1,278 base hits (9.0 per 9 innings) as well as 677 earned runs. The Marlins have a team earned run average of 4.74 this season (28th in MLB) and their team has 1,195 hitters on the field. They have allowed 502 batters to walk and their FIP as a unit is 4.38 this year.

The Marlins’ relief pitchers have a save percentage of 51.9% and have entered the game in 123 save situations. The relief pitchers have taken on 218 runners this season, and 38.1% of them have crossed the plate. The Marlins’ relief pitchers have faced runners on the mound 156 times and have had 169 appearances in high-pressure situations. The Marlins have sent 497 relief pitchers to the mound this season. The relief pitchers have earned 69 holds over the course of the season (22nd in MLB). They have earned 27 saves this year and wasted 25 of their 52 game-saving opportunities.

The Marlins have converted 67.9% of balls batted into outs in their 11,568 innings, ranking 28th in professional baseball. The Miami Marlins have 3,856 putouts at this point in the season, along with 1,293 assists and 102 errors. Their fielding percentage currently stands at .981, ranking 29th in baseball, and they have forced 109 double plays.

McCaughan (0-0 career win-loss record) has a FIP of 7.21 and has faced 185 batters in the Major Leagues. He has allowed 50 hits (11.8 hits per 9 innings) and has 17 walks. His earned run average is 7.32 (31 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.759. McCaughan has pitched 38 innings in his professional baseball career and has 26 Ks.

The Washington Nationals have a team OBP of .311 and a batting average of .244 this season. They have been called 1,075 times (26th in the league) and have 1,167 base hits. Washington has recorded 120 home runs this year and 569 RBIs. The Nationals have a slugging percentage of .378 and are scoring 4.19 runs per game (21st in the league). They have 248 doubles, are getting a free base 416 times and are scoring 604 runs.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.351 and a team FIP of 3.98 over the course of the season. They rank 28th in the league with 1,296 hits allowed. Washington’s pitchers have allowed 693 runs so far this season and have a team ERA of 4.38 (620 earned runs allowed). Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 8.30 (1,173 strikeouts vs. 427 walks). They have allowed 152 home runs and are giving up 4.89 runs per 9 innings (26th in the league).

Washington’s relief pitchers have a 36.1% taken score percentage of their 202 base runners taken. Their relief pitchers have entered the field 124 times in high-pressure situations and 140 times with runners on base. In 127 save situations, the Nationals have made 71 holds and 19 blown saves. They rank 10th in the league with a 66.1% save rate and have put 506 bullpen pitchers on the field this year. Washington has called bullpen pitchers to the mound on 56 save opportunities and made 37 saves.

In their 11,481 innings on the field, the Nationals have a defensive efficiency of 67.1% (30th in professional baseball). The Washington Nationals have turned 139 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .981 (28th in professional baseball). The Nationals have made 1,266 assists and 98 errors and have 3,827 putouts for the season.

In his career, Herz has allowed 63 hits and has totaled 93 punch outs in 75 innings pitched. He has allowed a total of 32 earned runs while posting a WHIP of 1.225 and a FIP of 3.8. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3.21 and he has faced 322 hitters in his MLB career. Herz (3-7 career win-loss record) owns a 3.83 earned run average and gives up 7.5 hits per nine innings.

Who will win today’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Guy Bruhns tip: Take Miami

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