Miami at Washington

The sand is quickly sifting through the hour glass for the Washington Nationals, who sit eight games behind the NY Mets with little time remaining. They do have their top option on the hill tonight in Max Scherzer and his 2.91 ERA on the season, who is also 3-1 vs. the Marlins this season. Jose Fernandez deserves equal billing for the Marlins at 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA on the season, but the problem for the Marlins is that they are on the road, and when it gets to the seventh inning and beyond, the Nats have a decided edge. The Nationals have had trouble with winning teams, but not losing teams, where they own a 49-23 mark at home in their last 72 facing them. Behind Fernandez, the Marlins are just 2-8 in his last 10 road starts vs. a winning team. If Washington wants to make the postseason, they have to start with a statement win tonight. Play Washington on the runline.