The Miami Marlins head to Nationals Park on Saturday, August 29, 2026, for a 4:05 PM ET first pitch against the Washington Nationals. Sandy Alcantara gets the ball for Miami against Washington's Cade Cavalli in what shapes up as a marquee pitching matchup between two arms who know each other's division well. With the regular season in its final stretch, every game in the standings carries weight, and the Marlins will need a strong outing from their ace to leave D.C. with a win.

Starting Pitchers: Sandy Alcantara vs. Cade Cavalli

Alcantara on the hill is always reason to show up. The right-hander has been Miami's most important arm for years, a workhorse built for big starts. When he is locked in, he generates weak contact and works deep into games, keeping the bullpen fresh and giving the offense time to find its footing. On the other side, Cade Cavalli has the stuff to keep hitters off balance. The young Washington right-hander has the raw ability to make this a low-scoring, pitcher-friendly afternoon at Nationals Park.

Miami Marlins Starting Lineup at Washington

• Kyle Stowers — 1B
• Heriberto Hernández — LF
• Xavier Edwards — 2B
• Griffin Conine — DH
• Otto Lopez — SS
• Jakob Marsee — CF
• Javier Sanoja — 3B
• Owen Caissie — RF
• Joe Mack — C

Washington Nationals Starting Lineup

• CJ Abrams — DH
• Abimelec Ortiz — 1B
• José Tena — LF
• Daylen Lile — RF
• Dylan Crews — CF
• Keibert Ruiz — C
• Brady House — 3B
• Jorbit Vivas — 2B
• Nasim Nuñez — SS

Keys to Watch for the Marlins

• Alcantara's efficiency: The Marlins need him pitching deep into this game. If he can get to the seventh or eighth inning without burning through the bullpen, Miami's chances improve significantly.
• Griffin Conine in the middle of the order: Hitting cleanup at DH, Conine is the run-producing focus of this lineup. How he handles Cavalli's stuff could set the tone for the entire offense.
• Xavier Edwards setting the table: Batting third, Edwards is a contact-first bat who can work counts and put runners in motion. Getting him on base in front of Conine is the formula Miami wants to run.
• CJ Abrams as the threat to neutralize: Washington's leadoff man is dangerous and capable of doing damage against anyone. Alcantara keeping Abrams in check early will matter.
• Joe Mack behind the dish: The young catcher batting ninth gives Miami a chance to turn the lineup over with runners on base. His pitch framing and game-calling partnership with Alcantara is also something to monitor.

Prediction

When Alcantara is on, the Marlins are a different team. Cavalli is a legitimate challenge, but Miami's lineup has enough contact ability and patience to scratch across runs if they stay disciplined. This one figures to be tight into the late innings. Give the edge to Miami on the strength of Alcantara keeping Washington's lineup in check. Marlins 3, Nationals 2.

Catch the game on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig and Garcia, or listen on WQAM 104.3 (English) and WAQI 710 (Spanish).