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Zimmermann set for rematch with Marlins

Apr 14, 2014 - 3:00 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann gets his second consecutive crack at Miami on Monday night when the Washington Nationals visit the Marlins to open a three-game series.

Zimmermann was 3-0 in three starts against the Marlins in 2013 while posting a stingy 1.50 earned run average, and he's won his last two assignments in South Florida while the ERA has hovered at 1.80.

Still, he lasted less than two full innings against Miami on Wednesday, when he was tagged for five runs on seven hits in a game the Nationals ultimately won, 10-7.

He'll be opposed for the second straight outing by Miami's Brad Hand, who'll once again fill in for regular rotation member Jacob Turner.

In the first outing against the Nationals, Hand was dinged by Bryce Harper for a three-run home run as part of a 3 1/3-inning stint.

He's 0-2 in four career starts against Washington, and his overall ERA of 7.64 against the Nationals is his worst against any opponent.

Washington's Adam LaRoche is 3-for-5 with a home run against Hand.

The Nationals will be without Ryan Zimmerman for four to six weeks after he broke his right thumb on Saturday. Washington is also missing Denard Span (concussion), Wilson Ramos (hand), Scott Hairston (oblique) and Jeff Kobernus (hand) from its lineup.

On Sunday in Atlanta, Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons all belted homers as the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the banged-up Nationals with a 10-2 rout at Turner Field.

The Braves battered Gio Gonzalez (2-1) for six runs over the opening two innings en route to the victory, though the Nationals starter was able to last six frames and record six strikeouts while not giving up a run over his final four innings.

Washington registered just six hits, with Harper and Kevin Frandsen notching two each and Adam LaRoche hitting a late home run.

In Philadelphia, Chase Utley belted the go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 win over Miami to finish a three-game sweep.

Garrett Jones homered for the Marlins, who fell to 0-6 on the road.

Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez was charged with 12 hits and three runs over six frames.

The Nats swept that three-game set with the Marlins last week at home and won five of nine in Miami a season ago.