The Miami Marlins travel to Nationals Park on Monday, August 31, 2026 for a 6:45 PM ET regular season clash against the Washington Nationals. Ryan Gusto gets the ball for Miami against Washington's Will Dion in what shapes up as a pitching matchup between two arms the Marlins will need to evaluate heading into the final stretch of the regular season. With a national audience tuning in on FS1 alongside local coverage on Marlins.TV and WQAM 104.3, this one carries some visibility. Every game matters in August, and the Fish need to show they can win on the road.
Marlins at Nationals Pitching Matchup: Ryan Gusto vs. Will Dion
Ryan Gusto draws the start for the Marlins. Without a deep statistical ledger available heading into this one, the focus shifts to execution — can Gusto work deep into the game, limit free passes, and give Miami a chance to win? That's the baseline ask for any starting pitcher, and it's the standard Gusto will be held to Monday night.
On the other side, Nationals right-hander Will Dion takes the mound for Washington. Like Gusto, detailed season stats weren't available at preview time, so the scouting report here leans on process over numbers. The Marlins' lineup will need to do its homework and make adjustments early to get to Dion if he has his stuff working.
Keys to Watch for the Miami Marlins
- Gusto's command: Road starts at Nationals Park can get away quickly if a starter falls behind in counts. Gusto needs to throw strikes early and often to keep Washington's lineup off balance.
- Capitalizing on opportunities: The Marlins can't afford to leave runners stranded in a low-margin game. Situational hitting — moving runners, driving in runs with two outs — will be critical.
- Bullpen management: If Gusto doesn't go deep into the game, Miami's relief corps will be tested. How manager Skip Schumaker deploys his bullpen arms could be the difference in a close game.
- Defensive discipline: Road games punish sloppy defense. The Marlins need to be clean in the field to protect whatever lead their starter builds.
Broadcast Information
Monday's game can be seen nationally on FS1. Miami-area fans can watch on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig and Garcia, and catch the radio call on WQAM 104.3. Spanish-language coverage is available on WAQI 710 AM. Washington-area viewers have Nationals.TV and WJFK 106.7 The Fan.
Prediction: Marlins 4, Nationals 3
This figures to be a tightly contested game. Give the slight edge to Miami if Gusto can navigate five or six innings without major damage. The Marlins have enough in the lineup to scratch across enough runs against a Nationals club they should be competing with. A one-run road win is absolutely on the table — but so is a frustrating loss if the offense goes quiet. Lean Marlins, narrowly.
