The Nationals can now start counting down the days until CJ Abrams returns to their lineup. But first, the All-Star shortstop needs to prove he’s good to go in a rehab assignment.

Abrams is playing tonight for Double-A Harrisburg, his first game action since aggravating his right hip flexor April 11 in Miami. He’s technically eligible to come off the 10-day injured list now, but the Nats wanted him to get some reps in the minor leagues before activating him.

“I’d like to get him on his feet, get him some at-bats and make sure he’s OK,” manager Davey Martinez said. “The last time he felt it was on the field, so we want to get him out there and let him play shortstop. And if it takes a day or two or three, then we’ll prepare for that. But hopefully he comes out today feeling good and not bothering him.”

Abrams is slated to play six innings at shortstop tonight and take at least three at-bats, with the possibility of more if he feels up for more. The Nationals would love to have him back in their lineup before the end of this week’s series against the Orioles, but they won’t rush it if he doesn’t look ready.

Nasim Nuñez has excelled in the field in Abrams’ place, to nobody’s surprise. But the 24-year-old infielder doesn’t provide nearly the offensive punch as the man ahead of him on the depth chart. In seven games since taking over as the everyday shortstop, Nunez is batting .182 (4-for-22) with three walks and two stolen bases.

It’s good to be home. The Nationals haven’t been here in almost two weeks, back when they won consecutive series against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Things took a decided turn downward on the road, but at least they won two of three in Colorado over the weekend. Now after a day off, they prepare for a six-game homestand against the Orioles and Mets.

Baltimore is off to a ragged start to the season, as well, a product of injuries and poor pitching. The Nats’ 5.12 staff ERA ranks 29th in the majors. The only staff worse than that: The Orioles, at 5.43. This would be a nice time to get the offense going.

Mitchell Parker has quietly been the Nationals’ best starter to date, with a 1.85 ERA and 1.110 WHIP in four outings. Most impressively, the left-hander has completed at least six innings in each of those starts. He faced the O’s last May as a rookie and did well, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, wind 10 mph in from left field

ORIOLES
CF Cedric Mullins
DH Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
1B Ryan Mountcastle
RF Tyler O’Neill
LF Heston Kjerstad
3B Jordan Westburg
C Gary Sánchez
2B Jackson Holliday

When he stranded the tying run on third base Saturday afternoon to secure the Nationals’ 12-11 win over the Rockies, Kyle Finnegan was credited with his 95th career save, tied with Drew Storen for second-most in club history.

And when he stranded the tying run on third base Sunday afternoon to secure the Nationals’ 3-2 win over the Rockies, Finnegan moved ahead of Storen into sole possession of second place, his 96 career saves now trailing only Chad Cordero in club history.

The veteran reliever had a hard time comprehending that news.

“It’s crazy to think that I’m second. I feel like I just got here,” he said. “I still feel like a new guy in the league.”

Finnegan may feel like the new guy, but he hardly fits that description. He’s now in his sixth major league season, all of them coming with the Nats. Having debuted in the second game of the abbreviated 2020 season, he’s actually the longest tenured player on the current team, beating out Luis Garcia Jr. by a couple weeks.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Placed RHP Cody Poteet (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 21.

Beginning April 21, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) will begin offering a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) streaming option called MASN+. Fans can subscribe for $19.99/month or $89.99 for the remainder of the 2025 regular season to receive 24/7 MASN and MASN2 content including every available Orioles and Nationals game, Orioles and Nationals Classics, O’s and Nats Xtra, and all other MASN programming.

MASN+ will allow in-market fans to catch all the action of Orioles and Nationals baseball with no blackouts and no cable or satellite subscription or contract required. Fans can subscribe to MASN+ by visiting MASN’s website at MASNSPORTS.COM or via the MASN app available now on iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku. MASN and MASN2 will continue to be available via cable and satellite providers.

“Our goal is to connect all fans to the excitement of Orioles and Nationals baseball,” said GREG BADER, MASN’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “MASN+ allows O’s and Nats fans throughout the Mid-Atlantic who have elected to cut the cord to view their favorite team’s games and all that MASN has to offer.”

Orioles and Nationals games produced by MASN include special features like in-game interviews with players, mic ups, and in-depth interviews and analysis.  

Visit masnsports.com for Orioles and Nationals programming information and content.

DENVER – Josh Bell has been doing this long enough to know when his swing feels right and when it doesn’t. And more importantly, when he feels like he’s about to break out of a slump.

The first four weeks of this season have constituted a slump for the veteran slugger. He entered this weekend’s series against the Rockies with a .133 batting average, a .267 slugging percentage and only two homers. What, then would be the sign he was ready to break out at last?

“I think it’s just more balls in the air,” he said Saturday morning. “I think when I’m chopping balls foul, I’m in a dark place. But if I can put it in the air, that means my path is good. And if I can just stay inside a little more, I’ll get it in the air in the field of play. …

“Any fly out is a good thing. Any line out is a good thing.”

A couple hours later, Bell sent a fly ball to left field in his first at-bat of the Nationals’ series opener at Coors Field. It traveled 328 feet and was caught easily by Colorado’s Jordan Beck. But it was a fly out, and in Bell’s mind that was a good thing, right?

DENVER – After the chaos of Saturday’s wild slugfest, who would have imagined today’s doubleheader at Coors Field would feature back-to-back pitchers’ duels, with offense at an extreme premium?

The Nationals certainly weren’t counting on that flipping of the script. Even though they leave town with a series victory, they leave feeling a bit of a sting at missing a golden opportunity at a three-game sweep.

Despite getting quality pitching from Brad Lord and their less-reliable relievers, the Nats fell 3-1 to the Rockies in the nightcap of the doubleheader, settling for a Sunday split in the thin air.

The same lineup that exploded for 12 runs on a 45-degree Saturday afternoon managed only four total runs over 18 innings of baseball played under far more pleasant conditions today, held in check by a Colorado pitching staff that has allowed the most runs in the majors this season.

"Obviously, we can't go up there and put up a dozen every night," said first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who managed three of the team's eight singles tonight. "But we'd like to score more, obviously score more than we did tonight because we didn't like the outcome. We hold ourselves to a pretty high standard and obviously didn't perform to that standard in Game 2."

DENVER – Things looked pretty bleak for the Nationals when they arrived in Colorado following back-to-back series losses in Miami and Pittsburgh. Now, things look a whole lot rosier following back-to-back wins and now the opportunity to not only sweep today’s doubleheader but sweep the weekend series as well and salvage a 5-5 record on the road trip.

Davey Martinez pulled out all the stops to win the first two games, asking for a combined five innings out of Jose A. Ferrer and Kyle Finnegan. You would think neither will be available tonight. But as we’ve seen here before, don’t assume anything when it comes to bullpen usage.

It’s probably safe to say Martinez will need more work out of his bullpen than he did previously, because Brad Lord isn’t likely to provide as much length as MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin did. Lord hasn’t thrown more than 57 pitches in either of his two big league starts, so you would think he won’t go more than 70-75 tonight. Look for Jackson Rutledge and Cole Henry to see action. The Nats also have Jorge López back from suspension, plus 27th man Andry Lara if needed.

At the plate, the Nationals will look to duplicate Saturday’s 12-run explosion, not this afternoon’s six-hit (all singles) performance. They’ve got Keibert Ruiz and Luis García Jr. back in the lineup after both guys got a chance to sit this afternoon.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at COLORADO ROCKIES
Where: Coors Field, Denver
Gametime: 8:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 63 degrees, wind 10 mph in from left field

DENVER – The style of game could not have been more different. Saturday’s delayed series opener was a Coors Field special, with both teams finishing in double digits. Today’s opener of a day-night doubleheader was the rare pitchers’ duel in this hitters’ haven, teams having to scratch and claw for each run.

And yet the ultimate outcome still boiled down to the same scenario from the previous afternoon: Could Nationals relievers cobble together enough big outs late to preserve a slim lead and make sure a dominant start didn’t go to waste?

Yes, yes they could. With aplomb.

Behind five clutch outs from Jose A. Ferrer to close out the seventh and eighth innings, then three more outs from Kyle Finnegan to close out the game, the Nats escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Rockies, giving themselves a chance to sweep both the doubleheader and the series later tonight.

It was a much-needed effort from perhaps the only two members of the bullpen Davey Martinez can trust right now. Ferrer and Finnegan teamed up to close out Saturday’s wild 12-11 win in which the bullpen nearly blew a 10-run lead. This one felt far more conventional, even though nothing in this ballpark ever is.

DENVER – Andry Lara didn’t understand why Matt LeCroy called a postgame team meeting Friday in Rochester. He certainly didn’t foresee the news his Triple-A manager was about to reveal.

“They did a team meeting afterward, and I was kind of shocked by it,” the right-hander said, via interpreter Kenny Diaz. “But nonetheless, I’m happy to be here. And my family and I are super excited to be here.”

Lara said this standing at his locker at Coors Field this morning, a gray Nationals jersey with his name and the number 72 hanging behind him. He’s a big leaguer, if only for one day.

Needing to add a 27th man for their day-night doubleheader against the Rockies, the Nats promoted the only player who realistically made any sense for the assignment. Lara may sport a 9.26 ERA in three starts for Rochester so far this season, but he was the only pitcher on the 40-man roster who wasn’t already either in the big leagues or on the injured list.

So, the 22-year-old got the call Friday night, flew to Denver on Saturday and now finds himself available to pitch out of the bullpen in either of today’s games.

DENVER – It’s going to be a long day and night of baseball here at Coors Field. Lord knows how many runs these two teams will combine to score over 18 innings of play, but it should be entertaining.

The first game of the doubleheader sees Jake Irvin on the mound for the Nationals. He’s coming off his best start of the season, having shut out the Pirates over seven innings Tuesday to earn his first win of the year. We know Irvin’s curveball is his bread-and-butter out pitch, but can he have the same success with it in the thin air that MacKenzie Gore did Saturday? He pitched here last summer and proved he could do it, striking out 10 over six innings of one-run ball.

The Nats will also hope to keep their power stroke going at the plate following Saturday’s 12-run explosion that included four homers, all to the opposite field. Dylan Crews, James Wood and Co. will be facing veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland, who has spent his entire career here and done a pretty good job given the conditions. Freeland is 60-76 with a 4.49 ERA in 209 games over nine seasons. He’s not a big strikeout guy, but he does throw strikes, so the Nationals will need to be ready to hit.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at COLORADO ROCKIES
Where: Coors Field, Denver
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Mostly sunny, 58 degrees, wind 6 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
LF James Wood
2B Amed Rosario
DH Josh Bell
1B Nathaniel Lowe
RF Dylan Crews
C Riley Adams
CF Jacob Young
3B Trey Lipscomb
SS Nasim Nuñez

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Andry Lara from Triple-A Rochester to be the 27^th man for the doubleheader in Colorado on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Lara, 22, led Washington’s system in wins (11) and WHIP (1.16), ranked second in innings pitched (134.2 IP) and third in strikeouts (132) last season. He ranked second among qualified Nationals Minor Leaguers in ERA (3.34) and opponents’ batting average (.227) in 25 games between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg.

In five professional seasons, Lara is 23-31 with a 4.54 ERA in 85 games (82 starts). He’s posted a .243 opponents’ batting average, a 1.31 WHIP and 8.26 strikeouts per 9.0 innings along the way. A native of Coro, Venezuela, Lara was the No. 16 prospect in the 2019 International Signing Class, according to Baseball America.

Lara has made three starts for Triple-A Rochester this season. He is 0-1 with a 9.26 ERA with seven strikeouts in 11.2 innings of work.

Lara’s first appearance will be his Major League debut.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Cody Poteet from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 53.
• Optioned RHP Brandon Young to Triple-A Norfolk.

DENVER – As demoralizing as the first two legs of this three-city road trip were, the Nationals at least could take some solace knowing the location of their final stop: Coors Field.

Nothing turns a slumping lineup productive like some thin mountain air. And though they had to wait 19 hours for a mid-April snowstorm to pass through before finally opening their weekend series against the Rockies, the Nats happily accepted the much-needed offense that came with it.

Then again, nothing turns an already struggling bullpen into an absolute mess like Coors Field does, which meant not even a 10-run lead this afternoon was truly safe.

Despite getting four opposite-field homers, two of them by rookie Dylan Crews, and a 13-strikeout performance from starter MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals still had to hang on for dear life as their beleaguered bullpen gave up nine runs before closing out a way-too-tense, 12-11 victory.

"You know how many games like that I've seen here?" manager Davey Martinez sighed. "Whew, a lot."

DENVER – The Nationals arrived in Colorado a battered and bruised team. There are 11 players currently on the injured list, four of them having been sidelined since the season began.

The good news: They’re finally getting closer to bringing guys back to the active roster instead of losing them.

CJ Abrams and Michael Soroka, in particular, are making good progress in their respective recoveries.

Abrams, out since April 12 with a right hip flexor strain, has stayed with the team on this road trip and has been rehabbing with his teammates. The All-Star shortstop has begun hitting and continues to take grounders, though there are still a few steps remaining for him.

Abrams is eligible to come off the 10-day IL for Tuesday’s homestand opener against the Orioles. There appears to be a chance he’ll be ready for that series.

DENVER – The good news: It’s not snowing here anymore. The bad news: It’s still cold, cold enough to prevent the thin layer of white stuff that stuck Friday from melting in some shady areas. It’s going to be in the 40s when the Nationals and Rockies finally get their weekend series underway this afternoon, an hour later than originally scheduled to allow for more time for snow to melt and the field to be prepped.

The Nats hopefully used their unplanned day off to rest up and perhaps solve all their problems, of which there are many right now. They desperately need a winning weekend against the worst team in the majors. That’s going to require improvement in all phases, but especially at the plate.

The lineup should be licking its chops at Coors Field, but that group will be facing a promising young right-hander today in Chase Dollander. Once considered a potential No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft out of Tennessee, he wound up falling to the Rockies at No. 9. He then cruised through the minor leagues, became a top-10 prospect and made his major league debut earlier this month. His first start wasn’t great (four runs in five innings vs. the Athletics) but his second one was solid (two runs in 5 2/3 innings vs. the Padres).

MacKenzie Gore gets the ball for the Nationals, hoping to keep the weakest-hitting lineup in baseball down with an ace-like performance. The lefty is coming off his worst start of the young season in Miami, where he gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings. He’s looking for a bounce-back performance in the cold today.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at COLORADO ROCKIES
Where: Coors Field, Denver
Gametime: 4:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Mostly sunny, 45 degrees, wind 4 mph out to left field

The O’s rotation could get a shot in the arm this afternoon. 

Brandon Young, the Orioles’ ninth-ranked pitching prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is set to make his major league debut against the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander brings elite command, and thus the ability to work deep into games, to a rotation in need of innings. 

“He has been outstanding,” said longtime Tides broadcaster Pete Michaud. “His first two starts were lights out.”

And that’s not an exaggeration. In his first two outings of the season, Young totaled over 11 innings without allowing an earned run. The 26-year-old allowed just seven hits and two walks while striking out 11, good for an opposing OPS of just .404. 

In those starts, Young’s strike rate was at a ludicrous 69 percent. For context, Zach Eflin is known for filling up the strike zone and boasts a 66 percent strike rate this season. 

DENVER – A mid-April snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains has postponed the Nationals’ series opener tonight and will create an Easter Sunday doubleheader at Coors Field.

The Rockies officially postponed tonight’s game about seven hours prior to scheduled first pitch, recognizing there was no real hope of playing due to the snow that began falling in the region this morning and is expected to continue through the night.

And with temperatures still expected in the low 40s on Saturday, they opted not to schedule the makeup game until Sunday, when the forecast is much more favorable, with temperatures in the 60s.

First pitch for Saturday’s game actually has been pushed back an hour, to 4:10 p.m. Eastern, to give crews enough time to prep the ballpark for play. Sunday’s 3:10 p.m. Eastern game remains as scheduled, with the makeup game now scheduled for 8:10 p.m. Eastern.

All games will continue to be broadcast on MASN.

PITTSBURGH – If nothing else, the first two weeks of the season offered up an apparently real sign of improvement from the Nationals lineup: Power.

A ballclub that ranked near the bottom of the majors in home runs and slugging the last two seasons was now hitting the ball in the air with authority. Through their first 13 games, the Nats totaled 42 extra-base hits, 18 of them homers.

And then they hit the road and stopped hitting altogether, the latest example coming today in a lifeless 1-0 loss to the Pirates to wrap up a miserable series at PNC Park.

Shut out into the eighth by Andrew Heaney one night after they suffered the same fate against Bailey Falter, the Nationals wasted a quality pitching performance by Trevor Williams and their own beleaguered bullpen, which rose to the challenge for a change and kept the game close.

"Look, I think we're playing great baseball, and we all believe in ourselves and believe that we can take it to the next level," said Williams, whose team is now 7-12 to open the season. "We hold each other accountable, and we hold each other to a higher standard. We're going to keep putting our head down, because the only way through this is through."

PITTSBURGH – Major League Baseball has suspended Nationals reliever Jorge López three games "for intentionally throwing at Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates" and manager Davey Martinez one game in the wake of Wednesday night’s incident.

López has appealed his suspension and remains eligible to pitch until a hearing takes place. Managers are not permitted to appeal suspensions, so Martinez will be forced to sit out today’s series finale at PNC Park, with bench coach Miguel Cairo taking over.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh Wednesday night and the Nationals trailing 2-0, López hit Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds with a pitch. He then threw a wayward fastball over McCutchen’s head three pitches later, prompting Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton to come out of the dugout to complain.

That spurred both teams’ benches and bullpens to empty, though nothing close to a punch was ever thrown. Once everything settled down and everyone retreated to their respective sides, the umpiring crew huddled up and decided to eject López, much to the right-hander’s shock.

No warnings were ever issued by the umpires, and Martinez was not ejected from the game.