Game Preview: Washington Nationals close out road trip with weekend series in Miami.

The Washington Nationals open a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Friday night, September 23, 2022

by Richard Wachtel

Updated September 23, 2022

Miami, FL - The Washington Nationals kick off a weekend series in Miami to close out the current road trip. Last week, the Nationals took two out of three from the Marlins at Nationals Park. Tonight, RHP Josiah Gray faces the Marlins for the sixth time this season and the second time in as many starts. His seven games against the Marlins are his most against any team in Major league baseball.

Gray has enjoyed success at Marlins Park, pitching to a 2.74 ERA with 28 strikeouts and five walks in 23.0 innings across four starts.

Last game out...

The Washington Nationals avoid a sweep by the Atlanta Braves as Joey Meneses hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh.

Recent Washington Nationals breakout star Joey Meneses returned to Atlanta, where he originally signed a Minor League deal with the Braves in May 2011, three days before his 19th birthday. 11 years later, Meneses returned to Atlanta, but instead he was wearing a curly W and starting with a Major League Baseball team. The 30-year-old rookie was called up to the Nationals’ roster when Juan Soto and Josh Bell were traded to San Diego at the Trade Deadline on Aug. 2. Meneses has been shining so much that among Washington Nationals fans, he has become a fan favorite.

In the team’s last visit to Atlanta for the 2022 season, Meneses went 7-for-12 with a homer, a double, two walks, and two RBIs. Both of his walks were intentional and in crucial situations. It continued today; with the Nationals down and looking at another series sweep, the right-handed hitter blasted a 420-foot two-run homer with an exit velocity of 106.7 mph in his next at-bat, putting the Nationals ahead for good in the seventh and silencing Truist Park.

Game Notes

Since being called up on August 15, 2022, Washington Nationals SS CJ Abrams' Nationals rank fifth in Major League Baseball in opponents' batting average on ground balls (.216 opp. AVG).
Lane Thomas has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games, going 21-for-66 (.318) with four doubles, one triple, two homers, nine RBI, eight walks, two stolen bases, and eight runs scored.
Washington's bullpen has pitched to a 1.59 ERA (5 ER/28.1 IP) with 26 strikeouts, five walks, and a .243 opponents' batting average over the last six games.
In 43 games since making his Major League debut on August 2, 2022, Joey Meneses is hitting .328 with 11 doubles, ten home runs, 25 RBI, ten walks and 27 runs scored. He has 17 multi-hit efforts. His 57 hits through his first 43 games are the most by any rookie through his first 43 games in franchise history (MON/WSH).