The Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins are both playing to avoid the National League East cellar, but they seem to be already heading in different directions.
The Marlins, last-place finishers in the two most recent full seasons, got a dominant starting performance from Sandy Alcantara, holding the Nats to just two hits.
The Nationals, meanwhile, headed for their first season with more than 81 losses since 2011, could not support a strong starting effort from Paolo Espino in a 3-0 Marlins’ victory.
Alcantara’s performance was reminiscent of many the Nationals got on their way to four division championships and a World Series championship from 2012-2019.