The Washington Nationals recently completed a stretch of games in which they went 3-12 and saw their National League wild-card hopes fall by the wayside.

That stretch of games could be divided into two categories: games started by right-hander Cade Cavalli (in which they went 3-0) and games started by somebody else (0-12).

Washington just ended that pattern with two straight wins, and the red-hot Cavalli will try to make it three in a row when the Nationals host the Miami Marlins in the second of a four-game series on Saturday.

Cavalli (12-5, 3.21 ERA) will face a formidable mound opponent as right-hander Sandy Alcantara (13-8, 3.38) goes for Miami.

Alcantara, in his second season back from Tommy John surgery, is returning to his Cy Young Award form. The 30-year-old has allowed either one or zero runs in seven of his past 10 starts, while lowering his ERA from 4.20 as it stood on June 29.

Last time out, he gave up one run on six hits in seven innings against the Boston Red Sox on Monday. He took a no-decision in the 4-2 loss.

"We're counting on him to go deep into this one and give us a chance, and that's what he did," manager Clayton McCullough said. "Unfortunate to get a quality start like that again from him and not be able to forge ahead and take control of the game. But he did all that he could."

Alcantara is 9-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 18 starts against Washington, including 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts this season.

The holder of several team pitching records, Alcantara will claim another on Saturday when he makes his 198th start for the Marlins, passing Ricky Nolasco for sole possession of the franchise record for most starts.

The 28-year-old Cavalli has made just 39 career starts. He is 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 26 innings over his past four. Last time out he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings against the Rockies, a 13-3 win. It was his ninth straight quality start, a stretch in which he is 7-1 with one no-decision.

"Cade continues to be that guy where when we need to get going again, it seems like it's his turn to pitch," manager Blake Butera said. "He just continues to pick us up at big times, and stop some bad momentum at times and get us back on track."

Cavalli is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts versus Miami this season. On May 10, the Nationals lost 5-2, and also took a 7-3 loss to the Marlins on June 1. He didn't get a decision in either game.

Rookie Jackson Kent was the Washington pitching star Friday night, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings to earn his first major league win in his fourth career start.

"What an outing," Butera said. "Picked us up when we really needed it. Bullpen was thin going into tonight. Obviously playing a ton of games in a row. ... It was impressive stuff."

Brady House hit a three-run homer, and Harry Ford added a solo shot as the Nationals won their second game in a row for the first time since Aug. 7-9. Washington ended an eight-game losing streak against Miami and is 2-8 against the Marlins on the season.

Heriberto Hernandez homered for the Marlins, who have lost three of four.

Marlins starter Eury Perez lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on two hits and four walks.

"Really just a lack of command tonight and unable to make enough pitches," McCullough said.