The Miami Marlins return to loanDepot park on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to host the Washington Nationals in a 4:10 PM ET first pitch. Right-hander Eury Pérez gets the ball for Miami against Washington's Jake Irvin in what shapes up as a pitching-focused afternoon in Little Havana. The game airs nationally on FS1, with local radio coverage on 560AM WQAM and Spanish-language broadcast on WAQI 710 AM. For two NL East clubs still grinding through the dog days of August, every game in the standings matters.
Probable Starters: Eury Pérez vs. Jake Irvin
Eury Pérez is the headliner here, and for good reason. The young Marlins right-hander carries enormous upside every time he takes the hill, and home starts at loanDepot park give Miami a genuine chance to put together something special. Pérez has shown the kind of stuff that makes opposing lineups uncomfortable — the pitch mix, the arm speed, the poise for someone his age. When he is locked in, he is one of the more compelling arms in the National League.
Jake Irvin counters for Washington. The Nationals right-hander has worked to establish himself as a reliable mid-rotation presence, and Irvin is the type of starter who keeps his team in ballgames. He is not a name that generates headlines, but he is not someone Miami's lineup can take lightly either. Irvin will attack the zone and make the Marlins earn every base.
Keys to Watch in This Matchup
- Pérez's command early: When Pérez establishes his fastball in the first two innings and keeps his pitch count manageable, he is capable of going deep into games. Getting through the Nationals' order the first time without damage is critical.
- Miami's offense against a strike-thrower: Irvin is the kind of pitcher who gives hitters a lot of looks they have seen before, which means the Marlins need to be disciplined early in counts and avoid expanding the zone. Patient at-bats will be the difference.
- Bullpen depth: If Pérez exits before the seventh, who Miami turns to out of the pen will go a long way toward deciding this one. The back end of the 'pen needs to be sharp.
- Home crowd energy: loanDepot park on a Saturday afternoon is one of the better atmospheres in South Florida sports. The Marlins have shown they can feed off that energy, and a fired-up crowd can make a difference in a close game.
Prediction
This one figures to be a low-scoring, pitcher-driven contest. Pérez at home with a crowd behind him is a strong setup for Miami. The Marlins have the edge in this matchup if Pérez brings his best stuff, and there is reason to believe he will. Give Miami the win, 3-1, with Pérez delivering six solid innings and the bullpen closing it out. The Nationals will make it competitive — Irvin won't hand anything over — but loanDepot park gets a Saturday afternoon victory.
