The Orioles have a chance today to win three series in a row for the first time since June 26-July 7, 2024.

Coby Mayo is the designated hitter and Emmanuel Rivera is playing first base. Ryan O’Hearn goes to the bench.

Ramón Laureano is the right fielder and cleanup hitter. Dylan Carlson remains in left field, with Colton Cowser in center.

Cowser hit a 455-foot home run last night, the longest of his career and longest by an Oriole since Ryan Mountcastle’s 472-foot shot in 2023.

Ten of Laureano’s last 12 home runs have been off right-handed pitchers, with another one last night. He’s batting .375 (18-for-48) in the past 14 games.

Two of the Nationals’ regulars, each of them struggling mightily at the moment, are getting the day off.

Both CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz are sitting for this afternoon’s series finale against the Rangers. That’s a product both of the matchup, with Texas sending left-hander Jacob Latz to the mound to open a bullpen game, and of those hitters’ recent struggles.

Abrams, who hasn’t had a day off since returning from a brief stint on the 10-day injured list April 24, is batting just .169 with a .247 on-base percentage and .312 slugging percentage over his last 19 games. In that time, the 24-year-old shortstop has seen his OPS plummet from .926 to .787, potentially taking him out of All-Star consideration.

“He’s chasing a lot,” manager Davey Martinez said. “We’ve got to get him back in the zone. Everything’s up. He’s got to get the ball down in the zone a little bit. When he does get the ball down, he hits the ball hard. But it’s all about chasing.”

Abrams, who has drawn only two walks over his last 61 plate appearances, has been quite swing-happy of late. He swung at six of the first nine pitches he saw during Saturday’s 2-0 loss before finally working a seven-pitch at-bat in the bottom of the ninth (though that still ended with a strikeout on a cutter up in the zone).

A win today and the Nationals would salvage a 3-3 homestand. Nothing wrong with that, especially when you consider how much they’ve been struggling at the plate. The Nats have scored nine total runs over their last six games. They were shut out Saturday afternoon by the Rangers. The two games they have won this week came by the same score of 2-0. Suffice it to say, more is needed.

It’s a very different matchup today than Saturday. Instead of a potential future Hall of Famer in Jacob deGrom, the Nationals will face left-handed reliever Jacob Latz to begin what looks like a bullpen game for Texas. Latz has made 12 appearances this season, with a 2.95 ERA and 1.418 WHIP. Lefties are batting just .143 against him. He has topped the 38-pitch mark four times, so he could be good for more than one inning if Bruce Bochy decides to go that way.

Trevor Williams starts for the Nats, and he needs to be better than he was against the Cubs last time out (five runs in 4 1/3 innings). The right-hander enters with a 6.03 ERA. With an off-day Monday in advance of this week’s series at the Mets, Davey Martinez might be inclined to go to his bullpen early without fear of burning guys up.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TEXAS RANGERS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain, 73 degrees, wind 10 mph in from right field

RANGERS
1B Josh Smith
RF Sam Haggerty
SS Corey Seager
2B Marcus Semien
3B Josh Jung
CF Evan Carter
DH Jake Burger
LF Alejandro Osuna
C Jonah Heim

The West Coast trip winds to a finish this afternoon, with the Orioles unable to run their sweep streak to three series. The mighty Athletics ruined those plans on Friday night. 

The season is 63 games old and the Orioles entered last night 12 below .500, 14 out of first place in the division and 8 ½ from the last Wild Card. Only the A’s and White Sox had worse records.

The most basic math tells us that elimination isn’t imminent. The second week in June leaves a lot of season to be played. But each loss feels like another shovelful of dirt is dumped on them.

That’s the way it is when a team digs such a deep hole for itself.

Let’s visit or review a few more questions that hover around the Orioles, who are off Monday before hosting the Tigers, owners of the best record in baseball.

The Orioles had their winning streak snapped at six games late last night with a 5-4 loss to the Athletics in Sacramento. They went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino used four relievers to cover 2 2/3 scoreless innings, but the bullpen is unchanged again after the Orioles acquired Scott Blewett from the Braves yesterday for cash considerations. Blewett hadn’t reported yesterday and the club didn’t announce a roster move today.

Maverick Handley is catching tonight and Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base and Ramón Urías is at third, which puts Coby Mayo on the bench after he doubled and walked last night.

Dylan Carlson is the left fielder again and Ramón Laureano is in right. Heston Kjerstad isn’t in the lineup.

Carlson homered as a right-handed hitter last night for the second time in his last 93 games since June 21, 2023.

The Nationals approached the precipice of a .500 record thanks to a suddenly resurgent offensive attack that put up historic numbers over a stretch of four late-night games on the West Coast last week.

If they’re ever going to get themselves over that elusive threshold, they’re going to have to come up with examples of some more consistent offensive production, even if it doesn’t qualify as historic.

A lineup that already was struggling during this weekend’s homestand ran today into the brick wall known as Jacob deGrom, who looked like his old vintage self in leading the Rangers to a 5-0 victory on South Capitol Street.

And though Mitchell Parker bounced back from another shaky first inning to otherwise cruise until he was pulled following the sixth, the two early runs he allowed (plus three more surrendered late by reliever Eduardo Salazar) were more than enough for Texas to win and set up a rubber match in Sunday’s series finale.

Will the Nationals (30-34) get going again at the plate by then? They haven’t shown any ability to do so to this point in the homestand. After establishing a club record by scoring at least nine runs in four consecutive games last week in Seattle and Phoenix, they’ve now scored nine total runs in their last six games.

Officially, Josiah Gray was in town for the Nationals Youth Academy’s graduation ceremony, an annual event the right-hander never misses as the team’s designated ambassador for its premier charitable outlet.

But if the right-hander was going to be here for the weekend anyway, might as well enjoy every moment he had at the ballpark and feel like a member of the active roster again, even though he hasn’t been since early 2024 due to injury.

“It's only a three-day trip right now, but just to see everyone and catch up for the short moments that we have together is always a good time,” he said Friday. “And just to feel (like) part of the team again is always a blessing. So I’m looking forward to these three days, and just thinking about the next time I’ll be back up here.”

If everything goes according to plan, Gray’s next official visit to Nationals Park should come sometime in September, with an opportunity to make a few game appearances before season’s end and officially conclude his lengthy recovery from a torn elbow ligament.

Gray, who had Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure July 24, is nearing the one-year anniversary of that career-changing event. His rehab has gone as expected, and he’s currently throwing multiple 30-pitch bullpen sessions each week at the Nationals’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Nobody who steps onto the field this afternoon will be able to claim he’s tired, not after Friday night’s game was completed in a record-tying, 1 hour and 50 minutes. Shoot, the sun hadn’t even set when Kyle Finnegan recorded the final out of the Nationals’ 2-0 victory over the Rangers. So everyone should be well-rested for today’s 4:05 p.m. contest on South Capitol Street.

The series opener flew by so quickly because both pitching staffs threw strikes and both lineups swung a lot. So it’ll be interesting to see if Mitchell Parker can take some cues from that and come out throwing strikes today against a struggling Rangers lineup. Parker continues to deal with all kinds of first-inning troubles (10.50 ERA for the season) but has found a way to be effective after that (3.40 from the second inning on). His challenge today: Post a zero in the top of the first, then go from there.

Though the Nationals have won two of their last three games, each of those came by the score of 2-0. They continue to struggle at the plate since their brief offensive explosion out west last week. After scoring at least nine runs in four straight games, they’ve now scored nine total runs in their last five games. And if they’re going to snap out of that funk, they’ll have to do it against Jacob deGrom, who is finally healthy again and pitching as well as he always has when he’s been healthy.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TEXAS RANGERS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 degrees, wind 7 mph in from left field

RANGERS
LF Sam Haggerty
CF Wyatt Langford
3B Josh Jung
2B Marcus Semien
1B Jake Burger
RF Adolis García
C Jonah Heim
DH Kyle Higashioka
SS Ezequiel Duran

The mere mention of it caused Bryan Baker to tilt back his head and laugh.

A selection to the All-Star Game? Baker will hold runners if they can actually reach base against him, but he won’t hold his breath.

“I don’t know about all that,” he said. “That’s a tough road.”

Baker has traveled a few in his professional lifetime. He’s learned how to fold the map.

There were times that he lost his job in the Orioles bullpen and fought to earn their trust again. Needing results to break camp with the team this spring, which coincided with an uptick in fastball velocity and renewed confidence in his changeup after a minute grip adjustment on the seams.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Orioles had gone two consecutive series without allowing four earned runs or more. They, of course, won all six of those games. 

Tonight, Baltimore allowed four earned runs by the end of the third inning. The offense couldn't find the right hits, and the O's fell 5-4 to the Athletics, snapping Baltimore's six-game winning streak. 

A lefty starter on the mound presented a tall task for an Orioles lineup that had been the worst in baseball at hitting southpaws this season. Perhaps some struggles evaporate in the midst of a winning stretch. 

The hometown kid got things started. 

It would take about 20 minutes for Dylan Carlson to hop in the car and drive from Sutter Health Park, the site of the O’s series against the Athletics, to Elk Grove High School, his alma mater. A late game might help him beat some traffic, too. 

Patrick Corbin was very good in his return to Nationals Park. Michael Soroka and the Nationals bullpen were better.

Despite watching their former teammate churn out the kind of effective start he rarely provided them the last five seasons – eight innings of two-run ball – the Nats managed to plate a couple of runs off the left-hander, then rode Soroka’s six scoreless innings and three more from three relievers to beat the Rangers 2-0 in one of the fastest games in club history.

It took a mere 1 hour, 50 minutes for the Nationals to win this pitchers’ duel, matching the fastest nine-inning game in team history. Both hurlers helped their cause by working fast and throwing strikes, combining for only 206 total pitches. But both lineups did their part as well, making a ton of quick outs to keep this game moving at a breakneck pace.

"I actually didn't realize (how quick it was)," Soroka said. "I came in after the fifth, and it felt like the third. Credit to Corbin for what he did as well. ... Kept the pace doing, and the defense did a great job as well."

In the end, the Nats emerged victorious thanks to a scratched-out run in the bottom of the second and then a solo blast by Alex Call in the bottom of the seventh off Corbin.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Orioles roster had a shakeup this afternoon, but it wasn’t the one that most had expected. 

Jordan Westburg has been tearing the cover off the ball in six games in Triple-A Norfolk, but his return will most likely wait until after this road trip.

“You’ll see Westy play these next couple days most likely,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I think he’s probably the most likely one to be there Tuesday.” 

Baltimore won’t rush him. 

Instead, the honor of reinstated Oriole goes to Ramón Laureano this time around, who is back with the club after playing just two rehab games for the Tides. Ironically, he’s returning to Sutter Health Park, where he has appeared on rehab assignment before. 

Jacob Young is back playing center field for the Nationals, bumping Robert Hassell III to right field and Daylen Lile to the minors.

Young was officially activated off the 10-day injured list today, ready to return just shy of three weeks after spraining the AC joint in his left shoulder trying to make a leaping catch at the wall in Baltimore. The 25-year-old played three games on a rehab stint with Double-A Harrisburg, going 3-for-11 with a double, RBI, walk and stolen base while feeling confident about the state of his shoulder.

“We talked last night, sat down with the medical staff. He checked all the boxes,” manager Davey Martinez said. “They said he felt good. He got a bunch of at-bats fairly quick and said he felt fine. He’s ready to go, excited to be back.”

Young, who hadn’t played since the May 20 collision with the Camden Yards wall, said his body was admittedly out of game shape during Tuesday’s rehab debut. But he woke up Wednesday morning feeling good and had no issues the next two nights. He believes he’ll have no restrictions when he takes the field tonight against the Rangers.

“Full-go. Try to avoid the wall as best as I can out there,” he said with a laugh. “But everything else, full-go. Sliding, diving, all that stuff is good.”

The Orioles have reinstated outfielder Ramón Laureano from the 10-day injured list and designated outfielder Jordyn Adams for assignment.

Laureano sprained his left ankle in Milwaukee. He homered yesterday for Triple-A Norfolk in Louisville in his second rehab game. He’s batting .266/.320/.532 with seven doubles and six homers with the Orioles.

Adams was used as a defensive replacement, his only at-bat coming yesterday.

Jordan Westburg and Gary Sánchez also homered yesterday for Norfolk and should be nearing returns. 

The bullpen will undergo another change. The Orioles acquired Scott Blewett from the Braves today for cash considerations.

The Nationals have welcomed plenty of former teammates back to D.C. in recent years, especially those who were part of the 2019 World Series championship roster. Tonight, though, offers maybe the most intriguing return yet: Patrick Corbin.

Corbin is by no means the best – or the most popular – former Nationals player to come back to town. But he was here much longer after the World Series than anyone else, and nobody had more mixed results over that length of time. The Nats do not win the title if not for Corbin’s performance all season and especially that October. But his performance the ensuing five years didn’t come close to matching the first.

Now the left-hander is a member of the Rangers rotation, with much better baseline stats (3.71 ERA, 1.256 WHIP) through 10 starts despite peripheral numbers that are remarkably similar to what he did here. What kind of reaction will he get from the D.C. crowd? How will he pitch tonight? Either way, it should be fascinating to watch.

The Nationals, who have Michael Soroka on the mound, made a roster move this afternoon. Jacob Young is officially back from the 10-day injured list and will be in tonight’s lineup, back in center field. Daylen Lile, who had his moments while up here over the last two weeks, was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester to clear the spot for Young (who will face some pressure now to be better offensively if he wants to retain his starting job long-term).

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TEXAS RANGERS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 81 degrees, wind 6 mph out to left field

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated outfielder RAMÓN LAUREANO (left ankle sprain) from the 10-day Injured List and acquired right-handed pitcher SCOTT BLEWETT from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. Blewett has not yet reported. To make room on the active and 40-man rosters, outfielder JORDYN ADAMS has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Laureano, 30, is slashing .266/.320/.532 (25-for-94) with seven doubles, six home runs, 13 runs scored, and 11 RBI in 36 games for the Orioles this season. He was placed on the 10-day Injured List on May 24, retroactive to May 21.

Blewett (pronounced BLOO-it), 29, threw two scoreless games (4.1 IP) for the Orioles earlier this season after being claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on April 14. He was designated for assignment by Baltimore on April 19, before being acquired by Atlanta for cash considerations on April 20. Blewett is 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA (11 ER/25.1 IP) in 15 games (1 GS) between the Orioles, Braves, and Twins this year.

Blewett was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2014 Fist-Year Player Draft out of Charles W. Baker (NY) High School. He made his MLB debut with the Royals on September 19, 2020 at Milwaukee. The right-hander has a 3.02 ERA (18 ER/53.2 IP) in 32 career MLB games.

SEATTLE – The Orioles flew to California after yesterday’s game against the Mariners, invigorated by the sweet smell of success on an undefeated road trip and after winning nine of their last 11 games, finally able to enjoy playing baseball again.

The music was cranked after Wednesday night’s thrilling 3-2 victory over the Mariners and a few players groaned when the media needed the volume level turned down to conduct its interviews. Nothing against us, of course, but don’t crash a party and mute the vibe.

“Vibe” is becoming a popular word around this team, perhaps more so than “process.” Heston Kjerstad produced a two-run, go-ahead triple on the field and a different description of the mood at his locker.

"Definitely won a lot more the past two seasons,” he said, “and I think we’re kind of getting back our mojo here the past week winning more games and just playing better baseball.”

Kjerstad always is cooperative but he’s smiling a lot more lately after collecting his fourth hit in three games – three for extra bases. Adley Rutschman kept the smile on his face throughout his four-minute interview, whether the subject was his home run, the team’s hot stretch, playing in front of family and friends from Oregon, or the toe-tap that is or isn’t part of his timing mechanism at the plate.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• UTL Cooper Hummel elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Washington Nationals returned from rehabilitation assignment and reinstated outfielder Jacob Young from the 10-day Injured List and optioned outfielder Daylen Lile to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Young, 25, returns to the Nationals after missing 14 games with a left shoulder AC sprain. He appeared in three rehab games with Double-A Harrisburg, going, 3-for-11 (.273) with a double, one RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored.

In his second full Major League season, Young had hit .227 with four doubles, one triple, six RBI, 11 walks, five stolen bases and 15 runs scored prior to suffering the injury on May 17 at Baltimore.

Lile, 22, hit .194 (6-for-31) with three doubles, one triple, two RBI, two walks and four runs scored in 11 games during his first Major League stint.

If recent history can be used to predict future events, the Nationals probably are going to wait a bit longer before promoting Brady House from Triple-A. James Wood certainly looked ready in June 2024, but he didn’t make his debut until July 1 (delayed, perhaps, a couple of weeks by a minor hamstring injury).

But House sure is making a case he’s just about ready right now.

The 2021 first round pick homered again Thursday night for Rochester, going 3-for-5 overall in a 9-6 loss to Worcester. That was merely the latest blast in a sustained run for the 22-year-old third baseman.

Over his last 20 games, House is now batting .325 with a .367 on-base percentage, six doubles, seven homers, 18 RBIs and a robust 1.018 OPS that has to have caught the eye of every Nationals employee, especially general manager Mike Rizzo.

House entered the season needing to prove he could have success at the Triple-A level after a pedestrian 54-game stretch there last summer and fall. By all accounts, he’s done exactly what the organization wanted, both at the plate (12 homers, .527 slugging percentage) and in the field.