In today’s MLB matchup, we have the Washington Nationals facing off against the Miami Marlins. The Nats are set to start with MacKenzie Gore on the mound while the Fish counter with Edward Cabrera. Miami is a slight favorite at home, with a -116 moneyline on the FanDuel Sportsbook and a total of 7.5.

Young pitcher Gore has proven to be a promising asset this season, boasting a record of 3-2 and averaging an impressive 11 strikeouts per nine innings. On the other hand, Cabrera can sometimes be erratic, and the Marlins often struggle to score runs.

Yesterday’s game saw the Marlins stealing a win from the Nationals, thanks to a late-game play by Jorge Soler. But will the Marlins repeat this performance today? Unlikely. Gore’s numbers indicate a solid performance, particularly early on in the season.

However, it’s worth noting that Miami’s lineup has been hit with the loss of Jazz Chisholm, one of their main bats, due to injury. This gives Washington an edge. Despite their lineup leaving a lot to be desired, the Nationals have demonstrated an ability to put the ball in play and score runs.

Analyzing Gore’s performance, it’s evident that he dominates against right-handed batters. Over the past 30 days, he faced 89 right-handed batters, holding them to a weighted on-base percentage of .261 and an ISO of .120. Interestingly, Gore has a weaker record against left-handed batters.

The Marlins’ anticipated lineup is predominantly right-handed, with Luis Arraez being the only lefty. Arraez, who is set to bat in the three-hole, hasn’t been performing particularly well against left-handed pitching this season. As such, if the Nationals focus their efforts on pitching around Arraez tight, Gore could have clear sailing.

It seems likely that the Nationals could be in line for a victory today, and the first five is worth looking at as well.