The back end of the starting rotation was a concern a few weeks ago for the Washington Nationals. But a resurgence from veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez has been a key for the Nationals.
Sanchez (4-6, 3.82) will look for his fifth win in as many decisions when he starts at home Thursday at 11:05 a.m. against the Miami Marlins in the annual July 4 game in Washington.
“It is the earliest game I have ever pitched in the big leagues,” Sanchez said. “I think it will be a lot of people there.”
“It’s a huge day. You get to watch a baseball game in the nation’s capital,” said Washington manager Dave Martinez, who has extended family in town to watch the fireworks on the National Mall after the series finale.
Sanchez is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in six games (five starts) in his career against the Marlins. He is 0-1, 5.06 this year against Miami and has not defeated the Marlins since 2016.
Sanchez won Friday at Detroit against his former team as he gave up six hits and just one run in six innings.
“He has been really good,” Martinez said.
He will be opposed Thursday by right-hander Elieser Hernandez (1-2, 4.07), who is 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in six career games (one start) against Washington.
It will be the first start of the year for Hernandez against the Nationals.
Hernandez got the win Friday against the Phillies when he went 5 2/3 innings and gave up three hits and two runs with seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Marlins will look to prevent a sweep by the Nationals, who got two more homers in the win Wednesday.
Washington closer Sean Doolittle, who got the save, said playing at home on July 4 is a big deal.
“I think it is right up there with Opening Day,” said Doolittle, who played in college at the University of Virginia. “There will be energy in the stands. We are definitely looking forward to it.”
Martinez said players may not like the early starting time, but the second-year skipper enjoys having the rest of the day for family — and having some wine.
“It will be a little bit of an adjustment for all of us players,” Doolittle said.
The Marlins are also dealing with injuries.
Outfielder Brian Anderson of the Marlins left the game Tuesday with a right elbow contusion. He was not in the starting lineup Wednesday but struck out as a pinch-hitter in a 3-1 loss.
“Not too concerned,” manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com. “They X-rayed it and it looked good. They were worried about a little chip or something like that. He felt like his fingers went numb. … He must have banged on that nerve a little bit. Hopefully, he’ll be OK tomorrow. We’re pretty optimistic right now.”
“There’s not big-time damage in there,” Anderson told MLB.com, adding he felt all right after the game. “I was probably able to do everything except for throw, but I didn’t want to chance it. We’ll see tomorrow, and hopefully the swelling will go down and (it will) feel a lot better.”