For all the talk about the improving National League East, and for all the hype surrounding the upstart Braves and Phillies, the one thing that has materialized exactly as predicted is the relative futility of the Miami Marlins. They are 19-30, decidedly in a “could-be-worse” position entering this weekend’s series. But they lack star power, with J.T. Realmuto and Justin Bour the only lingering threats in what was once a troublesome lineup.

Washington has not seen this Marlins team since spring training, and the Nats look a lot different than they did then, too. With that, here are a few things to think about as the Nationals and Marlins face off for the first of many times in the 2018 season.

Meet the Marlins

This Marlins team does not resemble the one the Nationals got to know over the least few seasons, a group that simply couldn’t sustain a push despite a loaded lineup full of stars. They have no players in the top 50 in FanGraphs WAR, and their leader is veteran infielder Miguel Rojas at 1.2 WAR.

Their lineup has the worst OPS (.652) in the majors. (The Nationals are 12th at .728.) Their rotation has struggled, with a 4.41 ERA. That being said, they have not rolled over like many thought they might this season. They will enter Friday night’s series opener having gone 14-13 in their last 27 games. Many thought the Marlins might lose 100 games this season; they are on pace to do far better. Still, in an improved National League East, the Nationals must seize these chances to accumulate wins over a team still without an identity, one that’s using young players to help find its way.

Bullpen shuffling

The Nationals’ quest to find reliable middle relief help will continue this weekend. A few days after calling up left-hander Tim Collins, who has pitched well in two big league appearances since, the Nationals will call up right-hander Justin Miller to take Erick Fedde’s spot on the active roster, according to a person familiar with the situation.

In Miller, the Nationals get another fastball-slider right-hander with a mid-90s fastball, and another experienced reliever. Miller was a staple of the Rockies’ 2015 and 2016 bullpens, and has accumulated more than a strikeout per inning for Class AAA Syracuse. He will become the sixth player to appear for the Nationals this season after signing a minor league deal at some point in the off-season or winter, and the first who climbed all the way from minor league spring training — he didn’t get a major league invite — to the majors.

Soto sample size

Juan Soto struck out twice and went hitless Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, the first time the rookie did not reach base multiple times in his brief tenure as the Nationals’ starting left fielder. He will have hitless games. He just hasn’t had many this season. Now, Soto will have to bounce back.

The question about Soto’s readiness never concerned his plate discipline or offensive ability. The main question, in fact, was what would happen when he struggles. The teenager has never really scuffled in the minor leagues, with a .362 career average and 1.043 OPS there. But he will find challenges in the majors, one of them being that the Nationals will likely rely on him rather heavily right away. Wednesday, he hit second ahead of Bryce Harper against the first right-handed starter he’s seen in the majors. He will get another chance at a right-hander, Marlins’ Opening Day starter Jose Urena, Friday night at Marlins Park.

Pitching probables

Friday: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Jose Urena

Saturday: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen

Sunday: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. RHP Elieser Hernandez

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