MLB Betting – Can Zimmerman, Nats right the ship in Miami?

Washington Nationals (+115) at the Miami Marlins (-125, 6.5 o/u)

Jordan Zimmerman (8-5, 3.30 ERA) will take the mound tonight hoping to get the Washington Nationals (52-45, 24-26 Away) back on track; but the night could belong to Jose Fernandez (3-0, 2.77), who is looking to become the first pitcher in 33 years to win his first 15 home decisions, for the Miami Marlins (41-58, 24-23 Home) at Marlins Park (7:10 PM Eastern).

Fernandez last outing came last Wednesday when the Marlins took care of the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 5-3 win; he went 7.0 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out 11 batters, his best outing so far on an injury shortened season.

“I feel pretty healthy. I feel real normal,” Fernandez told the MLB’s official website. “I feel, I don’t want to say like I was before, but I feel like I have grown as a pitcher.”

Fernandez last two starts were on the road, but he has an impressive 14-0 record at home in 22 career starts in Miami, with a 1.17 ERA; a 15th victory would match LaMarr Hoyt’s incredible run in 1979-82.

The Nationals have lost six of their last nine games, and will be looking to get back on track with the New York Mets sitting just two games back in the NL East. Fernandez has faced Washington’s lineup three times in the past, recording one win and two no-decisions; giving up nine hits and one earned run over 20 innings.

Jordan Zimmerman has been one of the most reliable pitchers for the Nationals this season, and he’s 3-0 on his last five starts, but he has left the last two games without a decision. He went 7.0 innings against the NY Mets, allowing seven hits and three runs, as his team pulled out a 4-3 victory.

The Marlins batting lineup is amongst the worst in the MLB this season, but with dominant pitching backing them, this team can still steal a few wins. Tonight, side with Fernandez and Miami.

Pick: Marlins (-125).

(Photo Credit: MissChatter on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)