MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Washington Nationals @ Miami Marlins

MLB Baseball

2026-08-23 - Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Washington Nationals @ Miami Marlins
United States : Major League Baseball
Sunday 23rd August 2026 - Scheduled 1:40pm EST
6:40pm (British Time)

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Preview

There may only be 5.5 games between these National League East rivals, but that is a big gap when you consider the regular season has reached entered the second half of August. A sweep is the ambition for the Miami Marlins (66-64) and they are also looking for an eighth win in a row against the Washington Nationals (61-70) in the 2026 season with the two teams having very different aims through the remaining five weeks of the regular season.

Despite a stronger than expected season, the Washington Nationals were trading away key performers ahead of the trade deadline and that suggested the management felt the team had reached its ceiling in the current form. Decisions like that can rock the confidence and the Nationals have lost seven of the last eight games and fallen out of contention as far as the Playoffs are concerned.

It is a dangerous time for the Miami Marlins too, even if they do have a winning record, and that is because they are 4 games out of the Wild Card positions in a deep, competitive National League. Before this series, the Marlins were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies and it is that series that has created the gap between them and the Wild Card spots and so there is pressure to make sure they can back on track with a sweep of their own.

Miami will hand the ball to Janson Junk on Sunday and the pitcher brings in a 6-8 record and 4.37 ERA from eighteen starts made in 2026. Before joining the Marlins, Janson Junk had very limited Major League experience, but he has been a steady force on the mound from the beginning of last season.

Janson Junk does not always offer a lot of Innings, but he has to be credited for allowing more than two runs in just one of the last eight starts for the team. During that run, Junk has a 4-3 record with a 3.35 ERA, although he will remember being rocked for four runs in 6 Innings thrown against the Washington Nationals in the sole start made against this National League East rival this season.

The road team will counter by giving the ball to rookie Jackson Kent as he prepares to make his third start in his first season in the Major Leagues.

Both starts have been made in August and Jackson Kent is going through some hard early lessons at this level having allowed eight runs in just shy of 8 Innings thrown in the first two starts made. Walks have been an issue and the Nationals will not want Kent to lose too much confidence so could quickly turn to the bullpen if things do not going the way they hope.

Prediction

This rivalry has been dominated by the Miami Marlins this season and they should have enough of an edge on the starting mound to get into a position for an eighth win in a row against the Washington Nationals.

Rookie Jackson Kent has struggled in his opening two starts and that may allow Miami to get into a lead that they do not relinquish.

The Pick :

Miami Marlins 6-3 Washington Nationals

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Miami Marlins to Win at -153 with Bookmaker.eu