The Washington Nationals host the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on Saturday, August 29, with first pitch set for 4:05 PM ET. Cade Cavalli gets the ball for Washington against former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, making this one of the more intriguing pitching matchups the Nationals have faced at home this stretch of the regular season. With a young lineup loaded with names Nationals fans have been tracking through the system, this is exactly the kind of game where development and results intersect.

Probable Starters: Cavalli vs. Alcantara

Cade Cavalli draws the start for the Nationals. The right-hander has had a complicated path to this point in his career, working through injuries and development, and every start he makes carries weight for a franchise that is still building its rotation around young arms. This is a tough test against a pitcher of Alcantara's caliber.

Sandy Alcantara lines up for Miami. The right-hander is one of the more accomplished starters in the National League, with a 2022 NL Cy Young Award on his résumé and a reputation for deep, efficient outings. Facing Alcantara is never easy, and the Nationals' young lineup will need to grind at-bats, work pitch counts, and stay disciplined at the plate to give Washington a real chance.

Washington Nationals Starting Lineup

• 1. CJ Abrams – DH
• 2. Abimelec Ortiz – 1B
• 3. José Tena – LF
• 4. Daylen Lile – RF
• 5. Dylan Crews – CF
• 6. Keibert Ruiz – C
• 7. Brady House – 3B
• 8. Jorbit Vivas – 2B
• 9. Nasim Nuñez – SS

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup

• 1. Kyle Stowers – 1B
• 2. Heriberto Hernández – LF
• 3. Xavier Edwards – 2B
• 4. Griffin Conine – DH
• 5. Otto Lopez – SS
• 6. Jakob Marsee – CF
• 7. Javier Sanoja – 3B
• 8. Owen Caissie – RF
• 9. Joe Mack – C

Keys to Watch

• Cavalli's command: Cavalli's effectiveness lives and dies with his ability to locate his fastball and mix his secondary offerings. Against a Miami lineup that can put the ball in play, limiting walks and getting ahead in counts is critical.
• Working Alcantara deep into counts: Alcantara is at his most dominant when he is throwing strikes early and getting quick outs. CJ Abrams at the top of the order and Dylan Crews in the middle of the lineup need to make him work. Patience is the offensive game plan.
• Dylan Crews and Daylen Lile: These two represent the core of what the Nationals are building around. Any productive at-bats against a pitcher of Alcantara's caliber will be meaningful for their development and for the scoreboard.
• Keibert Ruiz behind the plate: Ruiz's pitch framing and game management with a young starter like Cavalli matters. His ability to keep Cavalli comfortable and steal strikes at the margins could influence the outcome early.

Prediction

Alcantara presents a genuinely difficult challenge for a Nationals lineup that is still finding its footing. The Nationals' best path to a win runs through a strong outing from Cavalli, keeping Miami off the board long enough to let the lineup piece together some traffic. This is a game where Washington could steal a result if Cavalli is sharp, but the odds favor Miami given the pitching matchup. Look for a competitive game that stays close into the middle innings. Nationals 3, Marlins 4.

Catch all the action on Nationals.TV or on the radio at WJFK 106.7 The Fan.