MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Washington Nationals visit the Miami Marlins on Friday night at loanDepot Park, with first pitch set for 6:40 p.m. under clear skies and 83-degree heat.

Washington (18-20) sends left-hander Foster Griffin (3-1) to the mound. Miami (17-21) counters with lefty Robby Snelling, who makes his first start of the season after posting no record in limited appearances. The game is the opener of a three-game series between the two last-place clubs in the National League East.

The Nationals are coming off a 7-5 win Thursday over the Minnesota Twins, a game in which catcher Keibert Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Ruiz has been streaky this week; he was 0-for-4 in a 11-3 loss Tuesday but had hits in three of his previous four games before Thursday. Over his last 10 games, he has four multi-hit performances but also five hitless outings.

The Marlins took a 4-3 win Thursday over the Baltimore Orioles. Right-hander Max Meyer earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings with five strikeouts. Meyer has been sharp recently, posting a 0.00 ERA over his last two starts spanning 12 innings, with 12 strikeouts and only five hits allowed. Over his last five starts, the 26-year-old has a 2.30 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.

The Nationals will look to build momentum after splitting a four-game series with Minnesota. Prior to Thursday’s win, Washington won 15-2 on Wednesday but lost 11-3 on Tuesday. The offense has been inconsistent, scoring 15 runs in one game but totaling just four runs over the other three games of that series.

Miami has lost five of its last seven games overall but has won two of three entering Friday. The Marlins’ bullpen has been solid, with left-hander Andrew Nardi pitching a scoreless inning Thursday. Miami also received a home run from catcher-first baseman Liam Hicks.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-3 Nationals victory, but the ELO system gives Miami a 57.6% win probability. The Marlins are installed as a pregame favorite at -1.5 on the run line, with the over/under set at 8.

Following Friday’s opener, the teams play Saturday and Sunday before Washington travels to Cincinnati for a three-game set beginning Tuesday. Miami heads to Minnesota for a three-game series starting Tuesday.