Nats RHP Miles Mikolas trending upward entering start vs. Marlins

Washington right-hander Miles Mikolas looks to continue his turnaround when the Nationals host the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

Mikolas, signed as a free agent in February, got off to a very rough start this season and was 0-3 with an 11.49 ERA after his first four appearances. Working after an opener and as a starter, the 37-year-old veteran has slowly come around, cutting down on both his walks and home runs allowed.

After posting a 2.74 ERA in five May appearances, Mikolas enters Tuesday with a 1-4 record and a 5.72 ERA on the season.

Last time out, Mikolas took a loss against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. He was touched for two unearned runs in 3 2/3 innings after entering in the second.

Mikolas is 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 11 career games (nine starts) vs. the Marlins.

With several pitchers on the injured list, Miami appears to be going with a bullpen game on Tuesday, with Lake Bachar (0-0, 3.77 ERA) serving as the opener. Sandy Alcantara helped the relief corps by going seven innings on Monday as Miami snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win at Washington.

"I just want to be able to compete out there, to go deep in the game today, because knowing that we will be using the 'pen a lot (Tuesday)," Alcantara said. "I just wanted to give a chance to my 'pen to rest for a couple days."

Heriberto Hernandez, Liam Hicks and Kyle Stowers homered for the Marlins, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit.

Miami's Otto Lopez went 3-for-4 with a double for his major-league-leading 23rd multi-hit game of the season.

Before the game, the Marlins placed right-hander Josh Ekness on the 15-day IL because of a strained right calf, and they optioned right-handed reliever Josh White to Triple-A Jacksonville. They recalled right-handed relievers Tyler Zuber and Zach Brzykcy from Jacksonville.

Miami's scheduled starter on Sunday, right-hander Janson Junk, was scratched from that outing and placed on the 15-day IL due to right shin bone inflammation. Right-hander Eury Perez went on the IL with a right leg injury last week, too.

"To have a string of guys go down like this -- look, it is what it is," manager Clayton McCullough said. "... You'll never hear me making an excuse for, you know, what has happened or anything. We feel like we certainly have a group here that we know can go out and win games."

Washington, which has not lost a series since a visit to Miami from May 8-10, led 3-1 early in the Monday contest thanks in part to a two-run homer from Jacob Young. It was his eighth of 2026 after he managed just two in 120 games last season.

Young continues to enjoy facing the Marlins. In 28 career games against Miami he is batting .359 (33-for-92) with three homers, three doubles, 20 runs, nine stolen bases and 16 RBIs.

Washington's Cade Cavalli took the 3-1 edge into the sixth, but after a leadoff single, he was lifted for left-hander Richard Lovelady, who surrendered a game-tying home run on a 3-1 pitch to pinch hitter Hernandez. Three batters later, the Marlins scored the go-ahead run.

"When you're behind 3-1 facing a righty, it's tough," manager Blake Butera said. "The key for Lovelady has been getting ahead and being able to expand the zone with his slider."

Cavalli leads Washington starters with a 3.62 ERA, but the team fell to 4-9 in his outings.

--Field Level Media