The Nats are somewhat the White Sox of the NL this season as a surprise team perhaps rising a bit faster than many thought. Now Washington needs to do better at home, where it is 12-17. Starting pitcher Cade Cavalli enters with three straight quality starts. Miami has lost five straight overall and is 8-19 away. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara has been blasted in back-to-back outings and has a 6.07 road ERA.

Sandy Alcantara has a 6.30 ERA over his last seven starts, a 6.07 ERA in five road starts and a 6.27 ERA in six evening starts. The Nationals have an .806 OPS the last two weeks vs. right-handers, so they’re in a good spot here. Miami has been horrid on the road (8-19) and is 6-23 as an underdog. The offense has scored exactly one run in five straight games. Nats starter Cade Cavalli is going for a fourth-straight quality start.

Former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara is definitely capable of more than six innings and exceeded the total in his first three starts of 2026. But he hasn't since and is 1-2 with a 6.07 ERA in five road starts -- getting shelled in his past two outside of South Florida. As a potential trade candidate, why even bother pushing Alcantara into the seventh?

There's some juice, but this line should be a lot juicier. The Marlins are a pitiful 8-19 on the road this season and starter Sandy Alcantara has been lit up in his last two starts (and three of his last five). Washington starter Cade Cavalli is underrated, as are the feisty Nats.