MIAMI — After being swept on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Miami Marlins return home to take on the Washington Nationals on Friday. 

The Marlins can always count on the friendly confines of loanDepot Park to set them right. The Marlins boast a 38-25 record at home this season, which is tied for the fourth-most home wins in the big leagues. The teams that have more home wins than the Marlins (Tampa Bay, Milwaukee and Atlanta) are all division leaders. The Marlins have also won nine of their last 11 home games recently. 

The Marlins will open the series with Ryan Gusto (0-3, 4.70 ERA) on the mound against the Nationals and Brad Lord (5-2, 4.04 ERA). The right-handed pitcher is set to make his 12th start of the season and is still looking for his first win. 

Gusto struck out a season-high six batters but also gave up two consecutive home runs before being taken out of the game in the fifth inning of the Marlins’ 8-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 15. Gusto has struck out eight batters in eight innings over two career appearances against the Nationals. However, struggled in his recent appearance against Washington, allowing three runs over two innings out of the bullpen in Miami’s 7-3 win on June 2. 

Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine has been on fire since July 9, slashing .295/.373/.638 with 11 home runs in 35 games. 

Marlins rookie catcher Joe Mack is tied for fourth in MLB with 19 caught stealings since being called up in May. If he catches one more base runner stealing on Friday, he will become the fourth rookie catcher in the last 10 years to have 10+ HR and 20+ CS in the same season. 

Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks seems to have righted himself after an inconsistent first half of the season. He currently owns an eight-game scoreless streak since July 26, with five saves and 13 strikeouts. 

Luis Arana (No. 17) recorded an RBI double in the fourth inning of Single-A Jupiter’s 8-6 defeat against Bradenton on Thursday. 

Nate Payne (No. 16) struck out seven batters in six innings during High-A Beloit’s 2-1 win over Cedar Rapids on Thursday. 

Aiva Arquette (No. 2) went 3-for-5 with a home run and a two-run double in Double-A Pensacola’s 16-5 loss against Knoxville in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader. 

Brandon Compton (No. 13) hit his 30th home run of the season during a 3-for-3 night, leading the Blue Wahoos to a 6-1 win over the Smokies in the second game of the doubleheader. He leads all Marlins minor leaguers in homers and RBI with 84.

Kemp Alderman (No. 8) hit his team-leading 18th home run of the season during Triple-A Jacksonville’s 8-4 win over Memphis on Thursday.