The set-up: The Mariners and Nationals will wrap up a three-game IL series with this 12:05 ET start in Washington. The game time has been moved up due to rain in the forecast and the Mariners might welcome a rain out, as they have never won a game in the nation's capital. Washington's 5-1 victory Wednesday followed Tuesday 10-1 win and improved the Nationals' record in the all-time series to 13-1, including a perfect 8-0 at Nationals Park. The Tuesday and Wednesday results leave Seattle with five consecutive one-run performances and a 7-18 road record. The Nats are 28-17 overall, including 14-7 at home.

The pitching matchup: Ariel Miranda (3-2 & 4.28 ERA) will get the start for Seattle and will be opposed by Washington's Gio Gonzalez (3-1 & 2.86 ERA). Miranda has allowed just one run in each of his last two starts, allowing a modest seven hits over 12 innings. He has fanned 17 in that span after striking out a career-high nine in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox his last time out. He has never faced Washington and is 1-0 with a 6.19 ERA in three career interleague starts. Gonzalez was on fire to open the 2017 season by going 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA through his first six starts but has gone 0-1 with a 5.40 mark over his last three outings (all losses for the Nationals). The former first-round pick was reached for four runs on a season-high nine hits at Atlanta on Friday and he gave up two HRs, which gives him eight HRs allowed over his last five starts. He is 6-2 with a 3.27 ERA in his career against Seattle over 10 starts (teams are 6-4).

The pick: rMiranda has a big challenge in front of him on Thursday, as three of the top Washington hitters rank among the best in the league: Ryan Zimmerman (.371 & 13 HRs), Bryce Harper (.342 & 14 HRs) and Daniel Murphy (.324 & 9 HRs). Washington is averaging almost six runs per game at home, while Seattle (as noted above) comes in off five consecutive one run efforts. Make the Nats a 10* play!