Washington Nationals’ lineup for 4th of 5 with Miami Marlins in D.C.

Through 24 games of the 60-game 2020 campaign, the Washington Nationals are 10-14 and 4.5 games out of first in the NL East. They’ve lost two of three with the Miami Marlins in this five-game long-weekend series, and they’re struggling with inconsistent offensive output as they try to get into a rhythm in what’s so far been an odd season of stops and starts.

They’re also struggling to stay healthy, after losing a number of expected every day regulars over the last few weeks.

Shortstop Trea Turner, who started Saturday’s doubleheader with a six-game hit streak over which he’d gone 11 for 27 (.407/.448/.741) with a double, triple, and two home runs, got hits in both ends of the twin bill, and he talked after the loss in the nightcap about how the club can try to keep from having things spiral out of control in the sprint of a season.

“Just keep competing,” Turner said, “don’t give anything away. We’ve had a lot of injuries as a lot of teams have. A lot of moving parts, a lot of different players playing each and every game. I feel like we have a different lineup out there, but if we all compete whenever it’s your turn, whether it’s your at bat or your turn to make a play in the field, or get that one out out of the bullpen, whatever it is, make a debut start, and if you can compete and just give it whatever you’ve got, I always say I think if we do that we’ll end up in a good spot. It hasn’t gone our way so far, but we’ve got to keep our head up and keep going and keep pushing, and this thing is still wide open, we’ve still got a good shot at it, so keep competing.”

Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez said last night that the club has to start playing cleaner ball as well, after a sloppy loss to the Fish.

“We always talk about this, just get an out and tonight it just didn’t happen. Like I said, when you give other teams 7-8 extra outs, it’s tough to compete. That’s what we did tonight.”

Will they play a clean game in today’s 12:35 PM matchup with the Marlins and even things up heading into the fifth game with the Fish on Monday?

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR TODAY’S GAME WITH THE MARLINS: