Orioles Vs Nationals Opens Three-Game Washington Series
The orioles vs nationals weekend series opens in Washington with both clubs sitting close in the standings. Baltimore enters at 20-24, while Washington is 21-23, and the first game pairs Shane Baz against Zack Littell.
Baz And Littell
Baz is 1-4 with a 5.48 ERA, and he has allowed 10 earned runs over his two starts before this weekend. Littell is 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA, so the opener puts two pitchers with rough early numbers at the center of a series that carries more weight than a typical June set.
The Orioles are 1.5 games back of the final wild card spot in the AL. Washington is 4.5 games back of the final wild card spot in the NL, which gives the series a real standings edge even with neither club sitting near the top of its division.
Washington's Offense
Washington's lineup has carried more of the load than its run prevention. The Nationals have scored 236 runs, one fewer than the league-leading Atlanta Braves, and they rank in the top five in MLB in doubles, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
CJ Abrams has been at the front of that push with a 158 wRC+, a.292 batting average, a.390 on-base percentage and a.532 slugging percentage. James Wood has added 12 home runs and 36 runs, while Nasim Nuñez has 18 steals and has been caught stealing twice.
The problem sits on the other side of the ball. Washington has allowed 256 runs, and its 5.01 ERA trails only the Astros in the majors; the bullpen owns a 4.81 ERA over 204 innings, with Gus Varland leading the club with four saves and a 4.50 ERA.
Broadcast History In Washington
This series also comes with a broadcast-history wrinkle. The matchup was once known as the MASN Cup, the Nationals now work directly with MLB to broadcast games locally, and the Orioles are back on their own channel for the first time since 2004, when they were still on Comcast SportsNet.
Washington will be without Josiah Gray, who is on the injured list with a right flexor strain, and Trevor Williams, who is on the injured list with a right elbow sprain. Chris Bassitt is scheduled to start against Cade Cavalli later in the series, giving the weekend a second pitching matchup that could shape how both teams leave Washington.
