Expect Washington to rebound strongly after yesterday’s lopsided defeat. The Nationals hand the ball to Cade Cavalli, whose mid-90s fastball and improving cutter set up well against a Baltimore lineup that has struck out at the third-highest rate over its last ten contests. Grayson Rodriguez counters for the Orioles, but his occasional command lapses have led to early trouble on the road (1.45 WHIP away from Camden Yards). Washington’s offense should capitalize early: CJ Abrams has reached base in nine straight games, and Juan Soto (back after a precautionary day off) matches up favorably versus Rodriguez’s four-seam/slider mix. A first-inning RBI double from Soto and a Keibert Ruiz sacrifice fly in the third give the Nats a 2-1 edge. Baltimore levels the game in the fourth on an Adley Rutschman opposite-field homer, but Cavalli settles in, retiring eight of the next nine. The decisive frame comes in the sixth when back-to-back walks force Brandon Hyde to the bullpen; Lane Thomas greets Keegan Akin with a two-run triple off the right-center wall. The Orioles mount a brief rally in the seventh—Gunnar Henderson doubles home two—but Hunter Harvey strands the tying run on third. Kyle Finnegan records a clean ninth, powered by a 98-mph sinker, sealing a tight 5-4 Nationals victory that nudges Washington back to .500 and halts Baltimore’s modest two-game win streak.

Probable Pitchers

S. Baz Orioles

4-9 4.13 ERA

105 K

P. Poulin Nationals

3-0 3.06 ERA

22 K

Baltimore Orioles — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
José Barrero	SS	.105	2	5	.150	.289
Sam Huff	C	.160	2	2	.250	.480
Jhonkensy Noel	1B	.391	2	8	.462	.696
Will Robertson	LF	.182	1	3	.250	.364
Enrique Bradfield Jr.	CF	.083	0	0	.389	.083
Leody Taveras	DH	.205	1	6	.256	.385
Bryan Ramos	3B	.316	1	3	.381	.474
Weston Wilson	2B	.233	1	2	.395	.433
Jud Fabian	RF	.063	0	1	.167	.063

Washington Nationals — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
James Wood	RF	.125	1	4	.222	.250
Nasim Nuñez	2B	.211	0	1	.412	.289
Kevin Made	SS	.111	0	2	.200	.111
Joey Wiemer	LF	.150	2	6	.261	.350
Maxwell Romero Jr.	C	.333	1	3	.333	1.333
Luis García Jr.	1B	.128	1	3	.150	.205
Brady House	3B	.429	3	11	.444	.786
Andrés Chaparro	DH	.154	2	5	.261	.333
Jacob Young	CF	.077	0	0	.250	.077

Scoring Plays

▲ 7

Leody Taveras homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Enrique Bradfield Jr. scores.

2-0

Baltimore Orioles — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
José BarreroSS	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.105	.439
Sam HuffC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.160	.730
Jhonkensy Noel1B	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.391	1.158
Will RobertsonLF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182	.614
Enrique Bradfield Jr.CF	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	.083	.472
Leody TaverasDH	1	1	1	2	0	0	1	.205	.641
Bryan Ramos3B	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.316	.855
Weston Wilson2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.233	.828
Jud FabianRF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.063	.230
Totals	29	2	5	2	3	9	1

BATTING

HR: Taveras, L (1, 7th inning off Powell, 1 on, 1 out).

TB: Alexander; Alonso; Noel; Ramos; Taveras, L 4.

RBI: Taveras, L 2 (6).

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jackson, J.

GIDP: O'Neill; Robertson.

Team RISP: 0-for-1.

Team LOB: 3.

BASERUNNING

PO: Ramos (1st base by Powell).

a-Homered for Mountcastle in the 7th.

b-Struck out for Henderson in the 8th.

Washington Nationals — Batting

Player	AB	H	K	AVG	OPS
James WoodRF	4	0	2	.125	.472
Nasim Nuñez2B	4	1	1	.211	.701
Kevin MadeSS	1	0	1	.111	.311
Joey WiemerLF	1	0	0	.150	.611
Maxwell Romero Jr.C	0	0	0	.333	1.666
Luis García Jr.1B	3	0	1	.128	.355
Brady House3B	1	0	1	.429	1.230
Andrés ChaparroDH	1	0	0	.154	.594
Jacob YoungCF	3	0	1	.077	.327
Totals	30	3	9

BATTING

TB: Lile; Nuñez, N; Ruiz, K.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: García Jr., L 2; Vivas.

Team RISP: 0-for-3.

Team LOB: 3.

BASERUNNING

SB: Lile (1, 2nd base off Baz/Basallo).

FIELDING

Pickoffs: Powell (Ramos at 1st base).

DP: 2 (Abrams-Nuñez, N-García Jr., L; Made-García Jr., L).

a-Lined out for Tena in the 8th.

Baltimore Orioles — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	K	PC-ST	ERA
Shane Baz	5.0	3	5	73-45	2.61
Chris Bassitt(W, 1-0)	2.0	0	1	35-21	2.20
Yennier Cano(H, 2)	1.0	0	1	10-8	3.86
Dietrich Enns(S, 1)	1.0	0	2	15-9	9.39

Washington Nationals — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
PJ Poulin	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	9-7	0.00
Cole Henry	1.0	0	0	0	1	2	0	22-12	3.18
Andre Granillo	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7-6	0.00
Ken Waldichuk	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	11-8	0.93
Brad Lord	1.0	1	0	0	1	2	0	25-14	2.03
Gus Varland	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12-7	5.23
Holden Powell(L, 0-1)	1.0	2	2	2	1	0	1	20-11	7.71
Cionel Pérez	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	9-7	0.00
Clayton Beeter	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	11-8	0.00

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Ryan Wills; First Base: Chris Segal; Second Base: Dan Merzel; Third Base: Brennan Miller

Venue: Nationals Park, Washington

Weather: 56°F, Cloudy

Wind: 15 mph, In From CF

Baltimore Orioles — News

Orioles Place Rutschman On IL, Call Up Tromp

Rutschman's absence removes Baltimore's most productive bat (.348 OBP, .433 SLG, 8 HR in 67 G) at a moment the 49-51 Orioles are riding a 7-game winning streak. Tromp arrives with a .250 AVG and .194 xwOBA in 13 games—a significant defensive-first replacement for a team that cannot afford offensive regression.

Adley Rutschman

Rudy Martin Jr.

Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Transfer Ryan Helsley To 60-Day IL, Select Sam Huff

Helsley's departure removes Baltimore's most dominant reliever (12.33 K/9, 0.265 xwOBA in 17 games) from a bullpen anchored by Garcia (2.57 ERA) and Wells (2.89 ERA). Huff arrives with a .151 xwOBA across 9 Triple-A games, marking a depth shift rather than an offensive upgrade behind the plate.

Ryan Helsley

Sam Huff

Baltimore Orioles

Red Sox extend winning streak to 12 games with 7-6 victory over Rays

Boston has swung from 37-48 on July 2nd to 49-48 with a +40 run differential, now riding its best stretch of the season. Tonight's matchup pits Sonny Gray (2.54 ERA, 11-1) against McClanahan (2.83 ERA, 8-5) in a battle between the AL East's top two starters by ERA.

Sonny Gray

Tampa Bay Rays

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

Astros lose Pena (hamstring), Walker (injury) vs Orioles

Christian Walker (.234 AVG, .302 xwOBA) was already underwater offensively; Houston's lineup now thins further as they sit 47-52 in a third-place AL West with a -48 run differential. With Lambert (3.03 ERA) on the mound today against Baltimore's Young (3.42 ERA), the Astros can't afford offensive drain.

Christian Walker

Baltimore Orioles

Houston Astros

Orioles sign Kyle Bradish to five-year extension through 2031

Bradish (3.61 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 106 SO in 19 starts) locks in as Baltimore's second-best starter behind Young, securing rotation stability for a 47-51 team that's won 5 straight. The extension signals confidence in his 0.303 xwOBA despite a 6-9 record.

Kyle Bradish

Baltimore Orioles

Washington Nationals — News

Nationals Sign Matt Krook, Place PJ Poulin On IL

Krook arrives with an 11.37 ERA and 2.21 WHIP across 8 relief appearances, a depth replacement for Poulin (3.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) who departs with a left flexor strain. Washington's bullpen now leans on Beeter (3.62 ERA) and Ribalta (3.90 ERA) as primary depth arms.

PJ Poulin

Matt Krook

Washington Nationals

Multiple Teams Inquiring About Nationals First Baseman Luis Garcia Jr.

Washington sits at .500 (49-49) with a +26 run differential and 20-31 home record, making a mid-tier asset like Garcia Jr. moveable but not a centerpiece. Any deal likely hinges on whether the Nats view themselves as sellers heading into August.

Washington Nationals

Nationals Trade Robert Hassell III To Pirates

Hassell clears waivers with no 2026 MLB stats, indicating he hasn't stuck at the major league level. Washington (48-49, +7 run diff) continues shedding roster depth while Pittsburgh (50-47, +44 run diff) adds organizational upside on a contending trajectory.

Robert Hassell III

Pittsburgh Pirates

Washington Nationals

Trade Deadline Outlook: Washington Nationals

WSH sits 48-49 with a +7 run differential despite a 20-31 home record, relying heavily on Griffin's 2.77 ERA and 10-2 mark to stay competitive. The rotation depth beyond Griffin and Poulin (2.70 ERA) tightens significantly—Littell at 4.90 ERA and Alvarez at 4.04 ERA represent meaningful vulnerability heading into the deadline.

Washington Nationals

Nationals Reinstate Max Kranick From 60-Day IL

Kranick returns to a rotation anchored by Griffin (2.77 ERA, 10-2) and Poulin (2.70 ERA, 3-0), though Washington sits 48-49 and is 20-31 at home. Drew Millas' finger fracture clears the path for Ford, who has no 2026 MLB stats available.

Drew Millas