(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

When the season started in late March, the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins were regarded as two young teams not ready to contend for playoff berths.

Five-plus months later, that's exactly how it's played out for the clubs that are set to meet for the final time this year on Thursday in Miami.

Even so, both teams have had some positive developments.

For example, the Nationals, who are in last place in the National League East with a 60-85 record, have won seven of their past nine games.

Two of Washington's young mainstays -- shortstop CJ Abrams, 24, and left fielder/designated hitter James Wood, 22 -- both rank among the NL's top 10 in doubles.

Wood -- a first-time All-Star this season -- is one of only four players with at least 30 doubles, 25 homers and 15 steals in 2025. The others on that list are New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena.

Abrams, a first-time All-Star last year, has 29 steals in 32 attempts. He has hit 17 homers and has career-high totals in runs (87) and doubles (33). He also on is pace to post career bests in batting average (.266), on-base percentage (.329) and slugging percentage (.448).

Nationals first baseman Josh Bell has earned credit for helping leadoff man Abrams and two-hole hitter Wood develop this year. Bell, who usually bats third, is providing veteran leadership at age 33.

'He's been solid the whole year,' Wood said of Bell. 'For a young team, that's good for us.'

Meanwhile, the Marlins (67-79) are ahead of the Nationals in the division standings but are going in the opposite direction with seven losses in their past nine games.

Miami had back-to-back winning months this season, going 14-12 in June and 15-10 in July.

However, All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers was lost due to a left oblique injury on Aug. 15, and the team hasn't been the same since. The Marlins have gone 9-15 since Stowers got hurt.

Stowers has been slowed in a minor league rehab assignment by a right oblique injury he sustained while playing for Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

'I care a lot, and this is not what I wanted to have happen,' Stowers said of his new injury. 'I took a weird swing on a changeup down and away. ... I was in disbelief (at getting hurt again).'

The Thursday pitching matchup will feature two left-handers, Miami's Ryan Weathers (1-1, 3.28 ERA) and Washington's MacKenzie Gore (5-13, 4.15), who were activated off the injured list on Thursday.

This will be the first major league appearance for Weathers since June 7, as he has been sidelined due to a strained left lat. In two rehab starts for Triple-A Jacksonville the past two weeks, Weathers allowed a total of two runs in 7 1/3 innings while striking out nine and walking three.

In three lifetime starts against Washington, Weathers is 1-1 with an 8.22 ERA. In his career, he is far better on the road (8-10, 3.97 ERA) as opposed to at home (3-12, 6.29).

Gore is set to return from a 15-day stay on the injured list caused by left shoulder inflammation. The All-Star is looking for his first quality start since Aug. 15.

In six career starts against Miami, Gore is 2-3 with a 2.97 ERA, including an 0-2 mark with a 4.50 ERA in two outings this year.

--Field Level Media