The Washington Nationals wrap up the month of August by hosting the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on Monday, August 31, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET. Will Dion gets the ball for Washington against Miami's Ryan Gusto in what figures to be a competitive divisional matchup. With the NL East race ongoing, no game against a division rival is throwaway baseball, and the Nationals will be looking to close out August on a winning note in front of their home crowd. The game airs on FS1, Nationals.TV, and WJFK 106.7 The Fan locally.

Probable Pitchers: Will Dion vs. Ryan Gusto

Will Dion draws the start for Washington. The right-hander has been part of the Nationals' rotation mix this season, and Monday night gives him a chance to build on whatever momentum he's carried into this late-August stretch. For Miami, Ryan Gusto will counter from the mound. Both pitchers' current season numbers were unavailable at preview time, so how each has performed coming into this start will be worth tracking on the broadcast.

What we can say is this: pitching matchups against the Marlins are rarely simple. Miami has built its organizational identity around pitching development, and Gusto represents that pipeline. Dion will need to work efficiently and keep the Marlins' lineup off the bases to give Washington a real shot at a win.

Washington Nationals Starting Lineup

• 1. CJ Abrams — SS
• 2. Abimelec Ortiz — 1B
• 3. Andrés Chaparro — DH
• 4. Daylen Lile — LF
• 5. Brady House — 3B
• 6. Jorbit Vivas — 2B
• 7. Jacob Young — CF
• 8. Keibert Ruiz — C
• 9. Andrew Pinckney — RF

Keys to Watch for the Nationals

CJ Abrams Leading Things Off

Abrams at the top of the order is the engine for this offense. When he's getting on base and creating chaos on the basepaths, the lineup flows. His ability to set the table for Ortiz and Chaparro behind him is a critical factor in how many runs Washington puts up on Monday night.

The Middle of the Order Needs to Deliver

Chaparro batting third and Daylen Lile cleaning up at four is a legitimate middle-of-the-order combination for a young Nationals club. If Gusto is able to navigate those two with runners on base, the Nationals' run-scoring opportunities will dry up fast. Expect Washington's offense to live or die by those at-bats in high-leverage situations.

Brady House's Development at Third

House continues to get regular reps at third base, which is exactly what this organization needs from him. Every plate appearance and every defensive opportunity matters for a player the Nationals are counting on to be part of their future core.

Keibert Ruiz Framing the Game Plan

Behind the plate, Ruiz will be tasked with managing Dion's start and keeping Miami's hitters uncomfortable. His game-calling and pitch framing remain among the more underrated parts of Washington's day-to-day operation.

Prediction

This is a game the Nationals are capable of winning at home. The lineup has enough youth and athleticism to generate offense against a Miami starter, and Nationals Park on a late-August Monday night has a good feel to it. Give me the Nationals in a close one — 4–2 Washington, with the middle of the order doing enough damage to give Dion and the bullpen something to work with.