The Miami Marlins hit the road to face the Washington Nationals on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Nationals Park with first pitch set for 6:45 PM ET. Miami's Ryan Gusto gets the ball against Washington's Will Dion in what shapes up as a pitching matchup between two arms the Marlins will need to navigate carefully. With the regular season winding toward its final stretch, every game in the standings carries weight, and the Fish need to show up ready in the nation's capital. Catch the action on FS1, Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, or on the radio via WQAM 104.3 (English) and WAQI 710 (Spanish).

Pitching Matchup: Ryan Gusto vs. Will Dion

Ryan Gusto draws the start for the Marlins. Detailed season numbers for Gusto aren't available heading into this one, so the focus will be squarely on what he does against a Washington lineup that has real firepower at the top. Gusto will need to work efficiently and limit the damage when the Nationals' best hitters come to the plate.

On the other side, Washington counters with Will Dion. Like Gusto, Dion's specific ERA and win-loss numbers aren't confirmed ahead of first pitch. What Miami's offense will be looking to do is force Dion to work deep in counts, get into the bullpen early, and capitalize on any mistakes in the middle innings.

Washington Nationals Lineup to Watch

The Nationals are sending a lineup that deserves respect. CJ Abrams leads off at shortstop — he's a legitimate threat to set the tone at the top. Abimelec Ortiz slots in at first base batting second, followed by Andrés Chaparro serving as the designated hitter in the three-hole. Daylen Lile hits cleanup in left field, giving Washington a genuine run-producing bat at the heart of the order. Brady House rounds out the middle of the lineup at third base, batting fifth.

The bottom half isn't a pushover either. Jorbit Vivas at second base, Jacob Young in center, Keibert Ruiz behind the plate, and Andrew Pinckney in right complete the nine. Ruiz in particular is a catcher who can hurt you if pitchers leave anything over the plate.

Keys to the Game for Miami

• Control the top of the Washington order: Abrams, Ortiz, and Chaparro hitting 1-2-3 is a real challenge. Gusto has to keep the ball in the park and avoid multi-run innings early.
• Neutralize Daylen Lile: A cleanup hitter is always a priority. Keep him from doing damage with runners on base.
• Score early and take pressure off Gusto: Road starts are easier when you hand your pitcher a lead. Miami's offense needs to jump on Dion before he finds a rhythm.
• Bullpen management matters: With both starters' workloads uncertain, manager decisions out of the 'pen could swing this game in either direction.

Prediction

This one has the feel of a tight, low-scoring affair. Both starters are unproven quantities on paper heading into Monday, which means the team that manufactures runs — rather than waiting on the home run — likely wins. The Marlins have enough to steal this one on the road, but they'll need Gusto to eat innings and the offense to stay disciplined against Dion. Call it a Marlins win, 4-3, if the pitching holds.