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Marlins look to continue recent dominance of Nationals

Apr 5, 2009 - 7:49 PM By Dan Pieringer Stats Writer

Washington at Florida, 4:10 p.m. EDT

MIAMI (AP) -- The Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals have some major hurdles to climb to compete in the NL East. Based on the results of last year's season series, it's safe to say the Marlins have a better chance of starting strong.

The Marlins look to extend their dominance of the Nationals when they open the season Monday in Miami in a matchup between clubs hoping to start making strides toward contention after years of rebuilding around youth.

Florida rode the first infield in major-league history with four 25-homer hitters to an 84-77 record last season, its best finish since blowing up the team that won the World Series in 2003.

However, that was just good enough for third place in the NL East, behind eventual champion Philadelphia and the New York Mets.

The Phillies didn't lose many major pieces, and the Mets expect to compete for the title this season after making some high-profile offseason acquisitions. Atlanta also figures to be in the mix after overhauling its starting rotation.

The maturing Marlins, though, feel like they're ready to compete with the top teams in the division.

"I think so," All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla told the team's official Web site. "We all have been together for three years now. This is the year we finally have everybody healthy.

"We were very, very young in '06 (when the core of the team came together). We have a tough, tough division, but I think we've got enough to compete."

It'll help if Florida can continue its success against Washington. The Marlins outscored the Nationals 106-72 in going 14-3 in the 2008 season series. They won seven of nine in Miami.

All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez batted .354 (23-for-65) with seven homers, 17 RBIs and 23 runs scored against Washington last season. Uggla hit .360 (18-for-50) with four homers and 15 RBIs in 14 games in the series.

The Nationals' struggles against the Marlins contributed to their major league-high 102 losses, but the club is just as optimistic as Florida about its chances to improve in 2009.

"This is the best team we've had in the three years I've been here," manager Manny Acta said.

That's not saying much, considering last year's loss total was the franchise's highest since 1976 and the Nationals went 73-89 in Acta's first season at the helm in 2007.

Washington, though, boasts four new additions to the starting rotation, including top prospect Jordan Zimmermann. It also has a new cleanup hitter in Adam Dunn, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract after splitting last season between Cincinnati and Arizona.

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound lefty slugger is the only player in the majors to hit at least 40 home runs in each of the last five seasons, and that should be a big help for a lineup that didn't have anyone hit more than 14 last season. Washington was 28th in the majors with 641 runs and 117 homers last season.

"He, by himself, changes our whole lineup," Acta said of Dunn.

A revamped lineup, however, won't make much of a difference if the Nationals have as many injuries as they did last season, when eight members of the opening day lineup - plus others - spent time on the disabled list.

"Last year was such a different animal because so many people got hurt. I think if we're healthy last year, we're not that bad of a team," said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who tied for the club lead with 14 homers despite missing 55 games.

"If you look at our lineup now, when everyone's healthy, and if you look at the pitchers that we've picked up, I think there's no way we could lose as many games as we lost last year. Not even close."

The Nationals could have a hard time getting off on the right foot with Ricky Nolasco taking the mound for the Marlins on Monday. The right-hander went 5-2 with a 2.80 ERA over his last 12 starts in 2008 to finish 15-8 with a 3.52 ERA.

Nolasco is 5-1 with a 3.53 ERA in eight career games - six starts - against Washington. Dunn is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts against him.

The Nationals will counter with John Lannan, who was 9-15 with a 3.91 ERA in 2008. The left-hander has never faced Florida.