Right handed pitcher, Max Scherzer (12-5), will try to win his 13th game of the season as Washington Nationals (65-44) host the Miami Marlins (52-57) tonight at Nationals Park.
Scherzer, who missed his last start with neck spasms, is having another outstanding season where he has struck out 201 batters, allowed just 36 walks and a 2.21 ERA in 146.1 innings pitched.
The Nationals lead the N.L East by 13 games ahead of the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves (51 -59).
While Scherzer will be on the mound trying to keep the Rays bats in check, the Nationals will rely on one of the hottest group of bats in the majors to score runs, led by right fielder Bryce Harper with 28 homers and 81 RBIs, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (24 homers, 76 RBIs), third baseman Anthony Rendon (21 homers and 74 RBIs) and second baseman Daniel Murphy (19-76).
Last night the Nationals showed their postseason potential, as catcher Matt Wieters led them with an eighth inning grand slam to beat the defending champion Chicago Cubs 9-4.
Brandon Kintzler (3-2) took the win, the first since being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, while Carl Edwars took the loss for the Cubs and fell to 3-3.
Scherzer will face left-hander Chris O’Grady (2-1, 5.40 ERA), who has 24 strikeouts and 14 walks in 25 innings of work.
In other games the Detroit Tigers will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds will host the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers will travel to Minnesota to play the Twins and the Los Angeles Angels will host the Baltimore Orioles.
Also the Cubs will visit the San Francisco Giants for the first time since their dramatic 6-5 comeback win last season in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
That victory clinched the NLDS for the Cubs 3-1 and became one of key moments that helped Chicago win their first World Series since 1908.
