A crowd of 26,148 at Nationals Park spent all afternoon looking for a reason, any reason, to cheer for the home team.

The home team provided few such moments. The only significant crowd reactions for most of the day, if you want to call them that, came when security guards corralled and escorted two fans who ran onto the field in separate incidents during the course of the Nationals’ 4-1 loss to the Rays.

Such disruptions have been incredibly rare in the 18 seasons of the ballpark’s existence. Far less rare: Tepid offensive performances like the one the Nats put on display today during their seventh straight loss.

Though they narrowly avoided getting shut out for the 12th time this season thanks to an eighth-inning run, the Nationals never came close to mounting any kind of serious threat against Tampa Bay’s pitching staff until that point. Through seven innings, they totaled one hit and four walks, nothing else. They never put more than one runner on base in any individual frame, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position one day after going 0-for-12 in those situations in the series opener.

"It's about preparation," interim manager Miguel Cairo said. "We still have young kids. Young, talented baseball players here. They're learning. But you've got to go out there and execute your plan. The pitchers don't dictate what you're going to swing, first of all. You've got to have a plan. If it's not your pitch, OK, let it go. But if it's in the strike zone, you've got to be ready to hit."

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• RHP Matt Bowman has cleared unconditional release waivers and was released.
• RHP Cody Poteet (right shoulder inflammation) was returned from his rehab assignment, reinstated from the 60-day Injured List, and outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

The Nationals have placed MacKenzie Gore on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to 8/27) with left shoulder inflammation and recalled Mason Thompson from Triple-A Rochester.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Orioles are expected to add more than two players on Monday when rosters can expand to 28.

Pitcher Tyler Wells and infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo practically are confirmed, and reliever Albert Suárez probably will join the team in San Diego, as well.

Súarez made his fifth appearance on his rehab assignment last night and fourth with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with a hit and strikeout at Gwinnett.  

“I think he’ll need a couple days after the outing, today and tomorrow, which lines it up for most likely Monday, given that he feels good,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

“Two innings, two days. Monday kind of lines up. He’s got to feel good, though.”

Through good times and bad times, MacKenzie Gore has shown an ability to keep himself healthy and on the mound for the better part of three seasons now. But when the left-hander’s arm didn’t feel right in the wake of his last start, he conceded it was finally time to take a break. One he believes will be brief.

The Nationals placed Gore on the 15-day injured list today with left shoulder inflammation, an unexpected announcement but one that might in some way explain the 26-year-old’s struggles since the All-Star break.

Gore said his shoulder didn’t recover the way it normally does after Tuesday’s start at Yankee Stadium, which prompted the club to schedule an MRI.

“You always feel discomfort, especially going into September. It’s just recovering, it wasn’t right,” he said. “So we needed to get it checked out. We made a good decision; we got on it early. I should be alright.”

Gore said “nothing crazy showed up, like a significant injury” on the MRI. The Nationals are simply referring to it as inflammation in his shoulder. Though admitting the IL stint is necessary, the lefty expressed confidence it won’t be a long stint and insisted this won’t end his season.

It is an absolutely spectacular Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital. I don’t know what we did to deserve this sustained fine weather in late-August, but eternal thanks to whomever is responsible for it. Now, can the home team make it worthwhile for everyone who comes to Nationals Park for this game?

The Nats are mired in a six-game losing streak, one that has featured several frustrating losses, but perhaps none as frustrating as Friday night’s series opener against the Rays. Despite totaling 12 hits and four walks, they scored only one run because they went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Obviously, that won’t cut it in any situation. They have to be better today against right-hander Ryan Pepiot and the Tampa Bay bullpen.

Speaking of people who need to be better, Jake Irvin desperately needs a bounceback performance. It’s too late to salvage this month (0-4, 9.55 ERA) but perhaps the right-hander can at least end it on a high note and head into September feeling better about himself.

And the Nationals need someone in the rotation to step up and finish the season strong, because they just announced their most significant injury in a while: MacKenzie Gore has been placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder inflammation. We’ll find out more shortly, so please check back for the full article before today’s game, but clearly this is not good news, especially at this late point in the season. Mason Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Gore’s roster spot for now.

TAMPA BAY RAYS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees, wind 6 mph in from left field

SAN FRANCISCO – The mailbag didn’t empty on my first attempt, so let’s try again.

Here are some leftover questions as we await the second game of the series against the Giants, with a starting time of 4:15 p.m. on the West Coast.

Which prospects recently brought up are you most surprised by with their performance, whether good or bad?
So we’re not counting Jeremiah Jackson, right? You said “prospects.” But he’s definitely a surprise. I didn’t put much stock in his Triple-A numbers. Dylan Beavers is an on-base machine, which isn’t to be confused with Vimael Machín. I just assumed that he’d start slowly like so many others, but he’s worthy of an elevated spot in the lineup – next season after he retains rookie status.

Should Ryan Mountcastle change positions, since first base is crowded with Samuel Basallo on the roster?
Mountcastle already has played four since the Orioles drafted him – shortstop, third base, left field and first base. I don’t think there are plans to put him in the five-timers club and give him a special jacket. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove finalist at first. He’s fine. The bigger question is whether the Orioles give him another raise in arbitration in his final year before free agency, and if so, how they work the lineups with Basallo, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo.

Do you have any preferences for any of the rumored expansion cities? Guess one has to be on the West Coast?
Not sure I’m caught up on the rumors. Salt Lake City and Nashville? I saw the USA Today report last month that those cities are targeted. Bring back Montreal so I can finally make a trip. The Expos had the undisputed worst ballpark in the majors and every beat writer circled those dates on the calendar. Had nothing to do with Olympic Stadium. It was all about the city, which, as the backup on the beat, I never got to experience. Delmarva would be ideal because I could stay with my mom.

SAN FRANCISCO – Dean Kremer had the Giants beating the ball into the ground tonight in the first inning.

That’s usually good.

Six of the first seven batters reached base after the Orioles took an early lead. The Giants kept finding holes in the infield and kept forcing Kremer to throw pitches until his count reached 39.

He would have been excused for also throwing a fit.

Bad luck led to bad results and harder contact, and the Orioles began their West Coast trip with a sloppy 15-8 loss before an announced sellout crowd of 40,043 at Oracle Park.

The Nationals could have made a significant decision ahead of Friday night’s series opener against the Rays. With Thursday’s off-day, they could have chosen to skip Mitchell Parker’s spot in the rotation while keeping the other four starters on normal rest, allowing the struggling left-hander to work on some things with some extra time before his next start.

Instead, they chose to keep him in his spot, with interim manager Miguel Cairo saying before the game Parker needs to pitch.

So he did pitch, and in fact he pitched very well, albeit in a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

“It was nice to see him pitch like competing," Cairo said of Parker. "He was throwing strikes. He was attacking the hitters. … It was nice to see him come back and be who he can be. And it was really good to see that.”

Parker entered tonight with a 12.00 ERA and 1.952 WHIP over his five August starts, with the Nats winless in all of those outings. But he at least kept his team in the game by turning in his first quality start since July 19 against the Padres.

SAN FRANCISCO – The six-man rotation will be complete next week with Tyler Wells’ reinstatement from the injured list.

Wells will start in San Diego in his first major league appearance since April 12, 2024. He underwent elbow ligament reconstructive surgery two months later and just completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.

Because he pitched on Wednesday, Wells won’t be available to the Orioles during their series in San Francisco. He could start Monday or wait until Tuesday with extra rest.

The Orioles will finalize their starters by Sunday.

“Which day, I don’t know,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “You guys can probably do the math, take a look and have a good estimate. But it will be one of those three games.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Orioles infielder Vimael Machín is staying in the organization.

Machín cleared outright waivers today and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles designated Machín for assignment on Wednesday and selected Emmanuel Rivera’s contract from Norfolk.

Machín went 1-for-11 with a home run in his first major league action since 2022. He’s hitting .285/.344/.470 with 25 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 70 RBIs in 107 games with the Tides.

Reliever Matt Bowman was designated for assignment on Tuesday and reliever Roansy Contreras yesterday. The club hasn't announced the outcome of those transactions. 

The Nationals officially placed Drew Millas on the 10-day injured list with a fractured and dislocated left index finger (retroactive to Aug. 28) and selected the contract of catcher C.J. Stubbs from Triple-A Rochester this afternoon. Millas underwent successful surgery today to stabilize the fracture and repair the joint on his finger.

“I feel bad for him. It was sad,” said interim manager Miguel Cairo during his pregame media session ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Rays. “He was doing so good and he's one of the future of the team, catcher. And he was doing good hitting and catching and everything. So the surgery went well today. Hopefully we'll get to see him tomorrow, over here. He's gonna come in. But everything went well. They did some stuff with the fracture, but everything went well today.”

Millas hurt his finger when he was called for catcher’s interference in the third inning Wednesday during an Austin Wells at-bat, when the Yankees catcher’s bat made contact with the Nats backstop’s catching hand while swinging at a 97 mph fastball from Cade Cavalli. Following surgery, Millas is expected to be done for the rest of the season, but ready for spring training next year.

He finishes the season hitting .306 with five doubles, a triple, seven RBIs, two stolen bases and four walks in 18 games. The 27-year-old threw out 2-of-8 would-be basestealers.

To replace him, the Nationals chose Stubbs over Francisco Mejía and Brady Lindsly at Rochester. The 28-year-old catcher signed a minor league deal with the Nationals after the Astros released him in May 2024. He hit .161 with a .602 OPS, three doubles, a triple, a homer and five RBIs in 24 games with the Red Wings this year following a promotion from Double-A Harrisburg.

The Nationals’ nightmare in New York is over … at least until they go back to Queens in three weeks. But for now, they get to enjoy a six-game homestand, starting with three games against the Rays to start this holiday weekend.

Mitchell Parker will take the mound for the series opener after the Nats chose not to use yesterday’s off-day to skip his spot in the rotation and give him some extra time to work on some things. The struggling lefty is 7-14 with a 6.01 ERA on the season and the Nats are winless in his five August starts as he’s pitched to a 12.00 ERA this month. He’ll need to get back on track tonight to give his team a chance and start making a case for his rotation spot next year.

Adrian Houser makes the start for the Rays. Since coming over in a trade with the White Sox at the deadline, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA over his four starts with Tampa Bay and he’s given up four or more runs in three of those outings. So this might be a good opportunity for the Nats' offense to get back on track.

And the Nationals made an expected roster move official this afternoon, placing Drew Millas on the injured list with a fractured and dislocated finger and selecting the contract of catcher C.J. Stubbs from Triple-A Rochester.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Mostly clear, 76 degrees, wind 11 mph from left to right field

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of catcher C.J. Stubbs from Triple-A Rochester and placed catcher Drew Millas on the 10-day Injured List with a fractured and dislocated left second finger (retroactive to Aug. 28) on Friday. Nationals Interim General Manager Mike DeBartolo made the announcement.

Stubbs, 28, joins a Major League roster for the first time after he was taken in the 10^th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Southern California. In six Minor League seasons, he hit .204 with 72 doubles, seven triples, 67 home runs, 203 RBI, 199 walks and 51 stolen bases in 472 games. Defensively, Stubbs has thrown out 114 attempted base-stealers in 371 tries, holding runners to a .693 stolen base percentage.

A native of San Diego, Calif., Stubbs was originally drafted by the Houston Astros before signing with the Nationals as a Minor League free agent on May 14, 2024.

Stubbs produced an extra-base hit in each of his final two games in Rochester prior to his call-up. He homered against Toledo on Aug. 22 and doubled against the Mud Hens on August 24. He has thrown out 28 of the 76 attempted base-stealers against him this season and his .632 opponents stolen base percentage this season ranks second in the Nationals organization.

Millas, 27, hit .306 with five doubles, a triple, seven RBI, two stolen bases and four walks in 18 games for the Nationals this season.

Rather than subject my mailbag to another West Coast flight and jet lag, I decided to dump some of its contents back home and travel light.

Carry on.

This is the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, which set box office records. It isn’t streaming anywhere, but I am … usually around 3 or 4 a.m.

If I did any editing, I’m keeping it to myself. No grand announcements about clarity, length, style or brevity. Sorry to cheat you out of that thrill.

Also, a reminder that my mailbag gets your mailbag in the camel clutch and won’t let go until it submits. Especially on hump day.

The American League Cy Young race is one of the two-man variety, coming down to the wire between Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Boston’s Garrett Crochet. 

The latter has been dominant in a Red Sox uniform, posting a 2.38 ERA and over 11 strikeouts per nine innings entering this afternoon’s contest against the Orioles. 

The O’s were lucky to avoid Crochet for a two-game series up in Fenway. They didn’t get so lucky in this afternoon’s series finale in OPACY. 

In a game that Crochet starts, you’re fortunate to not be trailing when he leaves. That’s where the Orioles found themselves entering the seventh inning, all knotted at two. 

But it was the Red Sox bullpen that got the best of the Orioles, blanking the birds' bats in the final three innings. The Sox were able to push one run across in the eighth, and that was all they needed. The O's fell 3-2 and were swept in this four-game series. 

The business side of baseball reared up and bit reliever Roansy Contreras earlier today with news that the Orioles designated him for assignment to make room for right-hander Shawn Dubin.

Contreras finally got the call this week and made his Orioles debut last night, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings behind opener Dietrich Enns. He’s out of minor league options and would need to pass through waivers before the Orioles could outright him.

“Those are tough decisions,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “There was a lot of time spent on that, trying to figure out what the right thing to do was. We’ve got a lot of smart people who are looking at a lot of different type of information and trying to make the best decision they can.

“The coach in me wants him to get claimed because we want our players to play in the major leagues and get opportunities. The Baltimore Oriole in me wants him to get through and go unclaimed and be back in the fold for us.”

Dubin will be in the bullpen today.

Reliever Shawn Dubin has reported to the Orioles after a waiver claim from the Astros earlier this week. Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment to make room for him on the active roster.

The 40-man roster has 39 players.

Tough business. Contreras tossed 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings last night in his Orioles debut and is in limbo this morning.

"I'm very thankful to the Orioles organization for giving me the opportunity to be up in the big leagues and be here with them now,” he said last night. “So I'm very thankful for them.”

Contreras was the 65^th player used by the Orioles this season. Dubin can become the 66^th. Tyler Wells will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list when rosters expand and can become the 67^th if someone doesn’t beat him to it.

The expanded roster next month also lengthens the rotation to include a sixth starter, right-hander Tyler Wells, who pitched last night for Triple-A Norfolk on his rehab assignment and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

He’s stretched out to 90 pitches. Turn him loose.

The Orioles will ride with Wells, Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich. They apparently won’t deviate from the plan unless there’s an injury. Extra rest for everyone.

Brandon Young didn’t want to go on an extended break, but he’ll have to settle for his 12 major league starts this season and flirting with perfection in Houston. The final count shows more lows than highs, which explains his 6.24 ERA and 1.543 WHIP, but also the valuable experience and exposure that can elevate his game in 2026.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Young got “a lot” out of his time with the Orioles, which was cut short by a strained left hamstring.

The second pitch thrown by Roansy Contreras with the Orioles drilled Alex Bregman in the middle of the back. Bregman winced and bent forward as the Red Sox’s athletic trainer rushed onto the field. Contreras had followed an opener and raised a welt.

Contreras was a pain to the Red Sox for most of his outing, retiring 12 of 14 after Bregman reached base in the Orioles’ 3-2 loss before an announced crowd of 16,790 at Camden Yards. He tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, with three hits allowed, and came close to earning his first win since July 28 with the Angels.

That reward went up in smoke in the ninth inning on Ceddanne Rafaela's two-run homer off Keegan Akin after Jarren Duran's leadoff single. Akin stood with his hands on his hips as the ball headed for the splash zone.

"I felt really good, especially because I had worked with (Samuel) Basallo down in Triple-A, so I think that made it much easier to go out there today and get the job done," Contreras said via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

"I'm very thankful to the Orioles organization for giving me the opportunity to be up in the big leagues and be here with them now. So, I'm very thankful for them."