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Nationals-Marlins Preview

Jun 28, 2009 - 10:32 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Washington (21-51) at Florida (38-38), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Two sweeps of the Washington Nationals in April helped the Florida Marlins get off to the best start in their history. Facing the Nationals again could help the Marlins rebound from being on the receiving end of a sweep.

They'll attempt to continue their dominance of the lowly Nationals on Monday night when the NL East rivals open a three-game series.

Florida (38-39) opened the season by sweeping three home games from the Nationals (22-51) from April 6-8, before repeating the feat in the nation's capital April 17-19. Those victories were part of an 11-1 start to 2009.

The Marlins, however, are 27-38 since, and looking to rebound from a sweep at Tampa Bay that culminated in Sunday's 5-2 loss. Florida is third in the East, three games back of first-place Philadelphia, and has not owned a share of the division lead since May 4.

The Marlins have won 22 of the last 25 meetings with the Nationals, including seven in a row overall and 12 of the last 14 matchups in Miami.

Ricky Nolasco (4-6, 6.42 ERA) will look to continue his own dominance of the Nationals, while equaling a career-best by winning a third consecutive start.

The right-hander has been outstanding in his last seven starts against the Nationals, going 5-0 with a 3.12 ERA. For his career, he's 6-1 with a 4.14 ERA in 10 games - eight starts - versus Washington.

Nolasco has been particularly impressive in his last two trips to the mound, winning both while allowing three runs - one earned - and eight hits in 12 innings. He had been 0-3 with a 9.64 ERA in his four previous starts, but now has a chance to win three in a row for the first time since June 27-July 7, 2008, and the fourth time in his career.

Nolasco was outstanding again Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of a 5-2 win over Baltimore.

"This is completely different than what was going on early in the season," Nolasco said. "This could have happened easily for me at the beginning of the year but there were a lot things that didn't go my way at the same time."

Washington, which owns the worst record in baseball, is looking to build on its second win in seven games. The club won 5-3 at Baltimore on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep.

"It was good to get that W and get on the plane and go down to Florida happy," said second baseman Willie Harris, who had three hits Sunday including a homer. "Hopefully get some of that momentum for (Monday)."

The Nationals will have former Marlin Scott Olsen (1-4, 7.24) back on the mound after activating him from the disabled list Sunday and moving Craig Stammen - the originally scheduled starter - to the bullpen.

Olsen, acquired from Florida in a five-player trade last November, had been sidelined since May 17 with left shoulder tendinitis.

The left-hander wasn't very effective in his last three starts prior to the DL stint, going 0-1 with a 9.42 ERA. He went 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA in four total starts with Class-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse during a rehabilitation assignment.

Olsen started two of Washington's losses to Florida in April, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in those outings. He's 19-21 with a 4.25 ERA lifetime at Land Shark Stadium in 57 appearances - all but one a start.