The Washington Nationals wrap up August at home on Monday, August 31, 2026, hosting the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park for a 6:45 PM ET first pitch. Will Dion gets the ball for Washington against Miami's Ryan Gusto in what figures to be a pitching-focused affair. With the regular season heading into its final stretch, every game in the standings carries weight — and the Nats will be looking to close out the month with a win in front of their home crowd. Catch it on Nationals.TV or FS1, or tune in locally on WJFK 106.7 The Fan.
Nationals vs. Marlins Game Preview: August 31, 2026
Starting Pitchers: Will Dion vs. Ryan Gusto
Will Dion draws the start for Washington. The right-hander will be asked to keep the Marlins' lineup in check and give the Nationals' offense a chance to work. On the other side, Miami sends Ryan Gusto to the mound. Specific season statistics for both pitchers were not available at preview time, so how each has performed in the recent stretch of the schedule will be worth monitoring as lineups and updates emerge closer to first pitch.
What is clear: both starters are young arms with something to prove in a meaningful late-August matchup. The team that gets the longer, more efficient outing from its starter likely controls this game.
Keys to Watch
- Dion's command: The Nationals need their starter to work deep into the game and limit walks. Free passes against a team like Miami can snowball quickly, and the bullpen works best when it isn't asked to carry four or five innings.
- Capitalizing at home: Nationals Park crowds have been a real factor this season. Washington's lineup needs to put pressure on Gusto early, especially with the lineup turning over in the middle innings.
- Bullpen management: With rosters expanded heading into September, both clubs have options out of the 'pen. How each manager uses those arms — particularly in a tight, low-scoring game — could decide the outcome as much as anything the starters do.
- The Miami lineup: The Marlins are a team that can be contained when a starter has his best stuff, but they are dangerous enough to make you pay for mistakes. Keep an eye on how Dion attacks them early in the count.
Prediction
This one has the feel of a tight, grind-it-out game between two clubs trying to finish the regular season on the right side of results. Home field gives Washington a modest edge, and if Dion is sharp through five or six innings, the Nationals have enough to pull this out. Call it Washington 4, Miami 2 — but don't sleep on Gusto making this interesting late.
