(My Sportsbook) - Hard-throwing right-hander Daniel Cabrera makes his first National League start today, as his Washington Nationals try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins in the season-opening, three-game affair at Dolphin Stadium.

A 27-year-old Dominican, who stands an imposing 6-foot-9, Cabrera reached the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in 2004 and was 12-8 in 28 games, allowing less than a hit per inning and striking out 76 batters.

He won 10 games the following year with a 4.52 earned run average in 29 starts, but has failed to reach double-digits in three seasons since while going a combined 26-38 in 90 outings.

Not tendered a contract by the Orioles following the 2008 season, Cabrera signed a one-year deal with the Nationals and will make $2.875 million this season.

Opposing him for the Marlins will be another tall right-hander, 6-foot-7 youngster Chris Volstad, who reached the majors last season.

A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the 22-year-old Volstad was 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA over 14 starts and a single relief appearance for Florida in 2008, tossing 84 1/3 innings.

He struck out 52 batters and walked 36, allowing an opposition batting average of just .240. He struggled this spring, however, going 0-3 with a 4.00 ERA.

Volstad has never faced the Nationals.

On Tuesday, Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer in Florida's five-run third inning, as the Marlins downed former teammate Scott Olsen and the Nationals, 8-3, at Dolphin Stadium.

The Marlins have started the season with their offense firing on all cylinders. Florida scored 12 runs in Monday's season-opening win against the Nationals, and had all of its runs in the first three innings of Tuesday's victory.

Jorge Cantu went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer -- his second home run of the season, while Emilio Bonifacio was again a key at the top of Florida's lineup, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Bonifacio went 4-for-5 Monday with an inside-the-park homer and three steals.

Florida's offensive output was buoyed by Josh Johnson (1-0), who threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the start. He allowed seven hits, walked none and struck out eight.

The Marlins did most of their damage against Olsen, who was drafted by Florida in 2002 and spent his first four MLB seasons with the club. However, he was traded to Washington in November for, among others, Bonifacio.

The left-handed Olsen (0-1) was tagged for eight runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings, and struck out two in the loss. Austin Kearns hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, who out-hit the Marlins 11-9, but left nine runners on base.

The Marlins have picked up right where they left off against the Nationals in 2008. Florida won 14 of the 17 meetings between the divisional foes last season, including seven of the nine games played in Miami. Washington is just 8-21 at Dolphin Stadium since the start of the 2006 season.