September is Fan Appreciation Month at Nationals Park, and the Nationals have a number of fun activations and surprises in store for fans during the final home series of the 2025 season, including Country Night with a Nats Postgame Summer Concert, a pregame retirement ceremony for longtime broadcaster Bob Carpenter, special surprises and giveaways, and more. For more information and to purchase tickets for Fan Appreciation Weekend at Nationals Park, visit nats.com/Fans.

To start off the three-game set against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, Sept. 26, 20,000 fans will receive a 2026 magnet schedule to help plan for next season. Prior to the start of the game, the 2025 Minor League Players of the Year will be recognized on the field for their outstanding seasons. The game is also the first-ever Country Night at Nationals Park, and fans with a special event ticket will receive a Nationals-branded cowboy hat. All fans at the game are invited to stay for the final Nats Postgame Summer Concert of the season featuring multi-award-winning country singer/songwriter Riley Green. The postgame concert is free with the purchase of a game ticket.

As a thank-you to their most loyal fans, the Nationals are inviting Season Plan Holders to enter the ballpark early on Friday for rare access to batting practice, in which a selection of “bonus balls” will be thrown periodically and, if a Season Plan Holder catches it, can be redeemed for an autographed baseball. Season Plan Holders will also have the chance to meet the 2025 Minor League Players of the Year for photos and autographs, snap a picture with the 2019 World Series Trophy and meet Carpenter during a special bonus scorebook signing.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, the Club will honor Carpenter during a pregame retirement ceremony, and his name will be prominently displayed at Nationals Park on the façade under the broadcast booth. As part of the special day, 10,000 fans will receive a commemorative “See! You! Later!” T-shirt in honor of Carpenter’s signature home run call, and special game scorecards and pencils, in honor of Carpenter’s and industry-standard scorebooks, will be available while supplies last. Ballpark gates will open at 2:30 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. Fans can also enjoy the return of the popular “See You Tater” concessions concept in The Change-Up Food Hall in Center Field Plaza.

The Club will also show appreciation for fan’s best friend with the final installment of Pups in the Park presented by PEDIGREE Foundation on Sunday, Sept. 28. Fans with a special ticket can watch Sunday’s 3:05 p.m. game alongside their furry friends, who will also receive a special Nationals bandana. All proceeds from dog ticket sales will benefit the Humane Rescue Alliance. For more information, visit nats.com/Pups.

The final home game for the Orioles in the 2025 season comes with a lineup this afternoon with Dylan Beavers leading off for the second time in the majors.

Samuel Basallo said his right wrist feels much better today and he hopes to play Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Alex Jackson is catching today.

Jeremiah Jackson is in right field and Jorge Mateo is at second base, with Jackson Holliday on the bench. Holliday is dealing with a sore knee.

Gunnar Henderson stole his 29^th base last night and has been successful in his last 15 attempts since Aug. 4.

Colton Cowser, in center field again today, is 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts. He would set a team record.

Tyler Wells made it back onto a mound this summer after his reconstructive elbow surgery in June 2024. He found a spot in the starting rotation, which is his preference among roles on the Orioles’ pitching staff.

The rehab and perseverance earn him a win every time he picks up the ball.

It won’t show on his record tonight.

Wells turned in his poorest showing among his four starts, allowing three runs over four innings in a 6-2 loss to the Rays before an announced crowd of 18,367 at Camden Yards.

More stressful was rookie Samuel Basallo leading off the ninth against Pete Fairbanks and getting hit on the right wrist by a 96.6 mph fastball. He was in obvious pain as he crouched and then walked off the field while tilting back his head, grimacing and holding onto his wrist, but X-rays were negative for a fracture.

Jackson Holliday was in the Orioles’ original lineup tonight but a sore knee moved him to the bench.

“A little banged up,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “In one of the knees, something he’s been dealing with all year. I think it flared up on him a little bit today. Wisely, just kind of took a step back with it today. I definitely think that, I’d say nine out of 10 players have something going on right now. This for him today was something we didn’t feel like was appropriate to deal with.

“I’ve said this before, I think if we’re chasing down the pennant he’s probably in there today, but we’re just trying to be smart with the kid.”

Holliday has appeared in 146 games, four behind leader Gunnar Henderson. He has the most at-bats with 575, has avoided the injured list and ranks second in the majority of offensive categories except for the 17 home runs that lead the club.

“Listen, what we’ve asked of this kid this year has been a lot, and I do feel like he’s answered in a lot of ways,” Mansolino said. “This is a long season. The stress on this season in particular, how it’s been here in Baltimore this year and just kind of not meeting expectations as a team, and the pressure and stress and everything and having to play every day and be a focal point, lead off and be in the middle of the field every single day, it’s a big ask for a 21-year-old kid.

The Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Paul Toboni from the Red Sox as their new head of baseball operations, ultimately choosing to bring in an up-and-coming outside voice to lead the organization rather than staying in-house.

The deal with Toboni is not done yet, but sources familiar with the move confirmed the 35-year-old has been selected by the Lerner family as the choice to replace Mike Rizzo, who was fired as president of baseball operations and general manager in July after 16 years in the position.

Still unclear is Toboni’s new title with the Nationals, whether he is named president of baseball operations, general manager or both, and whether he’ll have a GM as his second-in-command, whether that’s current interim GM Mike DeBartolo or someone else.

No official announcement has been planned yet, but the club has hoped all along to be able to introduce its new head of baseball operations just before or immediately after the season ends Sunday, with Major League Baseball discouraging teams from holding major press conferences during the postseason (which begins Tuesday).

Toboni was one of at least seven reported candidates for the job, joined by DeBartolo, fellow Red Sox assistant GM Eddie Romero, Dodgers senior vice president Josh Byrnes, Cubs GM Carter Hawkins, Guardians assistant GM Matt Forman and Diamondbacks assistant GM Amiel Sawdaye. From that group, only Byrnes (a D.C. native) had previously held a full-time job running a baseball operations department (both Arizona and San Diego).

Dylan Beavers is batting leadoff for the first time in his brief career, as the Orioles try to secure their series against the Rays at Camden Yards.

Jackson Holliday is on the bench, freeing up second base for Jordan Westburg.

Samuel Basallo is playing first base.

Basallo didn’t have any hits against inside pitches in August, but he’s hitting .286 and slugging 1.000 this month, per STATS.

Jeremiah Jackson gets the start at third base.

A 19-year-old outfielder will be honored as the Orioles’ top minor league player in 2025.

That’s a bright future.

Nate George will receive his award tonight in an on-field ceremony prior to the game against the Rays at Camden Yards. Right-hander Trey Gibson, 23, was chosen as the system’s top pitcher.

Florida Complex League manager Christian Frias and area scout Rich Amaral also were recognized for their contributions to the organization.

The Orioles drafted George in the 16^th round in 2024 out of Minooka Community High School in Illinois. His first professional season carried him to three levels – the FCL, Class A Delmarva and High-A Aberdeen – and he hit a combined .337/.413/.483 with 14 doubles, nine triples, five home runs, 42 RBIs, 38 walks, 62 strikeouts and 50 stolen bases in 87 games.

The smartest warning to be issued for the 2025 season was to expect the unexpected from the Orioles.

They weren’t supposed to land in last place or fire manager Brandon Hyde, let alone in May. They weren’t supposed to tie the Marlins for most players used with 70 or post a run differential of minus-98. They weren't supposed to use the injured list 39 times with 29 different players.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg that they crashed into this year.

The season will go on … until Sunday’s finale in the Bronx. Near, far, wherever they are, it’s one for the books. They can’t wait to close it and regroup for 2026.

Did you ever imagine that …

That’s a wrap on Dean Kremer’s 2025 season. He put a pretty bow on it.

Kremer made his final start tonight and shut out the Rays on one hit in 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the Orioles’ 6-0 victory before an announced crowd of 15,267 at Camden Yards. He waited through a 1 hour and 11 minute rain delay and started to deal.

Colton Cowser belted a two-run homer in the sixth, giving him 16 to tie Gunnar Henderson for second on the team, and the Orioles began their last home series by improving their record to 74-83 overall and 6-5 against Tampa Bay. They moved within two games of fourth place.

Kremer finishes with an 11-10 record, 4.23 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 30 appearances covering 170 1/3 innings, including a bulk relief assignment. He received a standing ovation as he came out of the game at 97 pitches after nailing Junior Caminero in the back with a splitter with one out in the seventh. Kremer walked none and struck out four.

“It was really good,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “I feel like we’ve seen that outing seven or eight times this year, that same type of deal. Commanding the pitches, attacking the zone. When he got behind, he was able to get back in the fight a little bit, getting them to put the ball in play, weak contact. It was a very nice outing for him right there.”

The honor might have meant more to Trevor Rogers than anyone else in the clubhouse.

Media chose Rogers as Most Valuable Oriole, with the announcement coming earlier today. He was recognized for a comeback that carried him from a 7.11 ERA in four starts last summer and a demotion to Triple-A Norfolk to a 1.35 ERA that’s the lowest ever by an Orioles pitcher in his first 17 starts.

He’s also going to bring a 0.872 WHIP, .178 opponents’ average and 6.0 bWAR into his last game this weekend in the Bronx, with a streak of two earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts that’s the longest in franchise history.

“It’s huge,” Rogers said this afternoon. “I’m honored just to be in the elite company that’s had this award in years past. And just the entire journey that I’ve been on since I’ve gotten here, kind of a bumpy start, not the start that any of us would have wanted. But seeing where we are today, it was worth it going through those struggles. Getting this award, I’m very thankful.

“My stuff is in a really good spot consistently. I’m not a one-dimensional guy anymore. I always relied on my fastball-changeup in years past. It seems like if one of those pitches went haywire, I only relied on one pitch. Developing multiple pitches I can throw for strikes and be competitive with those makes my job a little easier.”

Catcher Gary Sánchez won’t return to the Orioles this week. His first, and likely only, season with the team ends after 30 games and a .231/.297/.418 line with two doubles, five home runs and 24 RBIs in 101 plate appearances.

The Orioles signed Sánchez to a one-year, $8.5 million contract. He made two stops on the injured list with wrist and knee injuries.

Another change was made to the Orioles bullpen this afternoon. They returned Colin Selby from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the injured list.

Jose Espada was optioned to the spring training complex.

Selby hasn’t pitched since July 28 because of a hamstring strain. Espada tossed three scoreless innings in his only appearance with the Orioles, and his second in the majors.

The climb out of the deepest pit in his professional career has landed Trevor Rogers in first place in voting for Most Valuable Oriole.

Rogers was honored by members of the media covering the team. Coming up next could be appearances on Cy Young ballots and perhaps a Comeback Player of the Year award.

One start remains in Rogers’ season, this weekend at Yankee Stadium. He’s 9-2 with a 1.35 ERA, 0.872 WHIP, .178 opponents’ average and 6.0 bWAR, the lowest ERA in Orioles history among pitchers in their first 17 starts.

"I probably told you a few starts ago, 'You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, the other foot to drop,’” interim manager Tony Mansolino said on Friday. “I don't think we're waiting anymore.”

Rogers has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts, the longest streak in Orioles history and longest in the majors since the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (17) from July 16, 2022-April 10, 2023. He’s surrendered more than two earned runs in only one start, and he tossed six scoreless innings while giving up just one hit in his most recent outing against the Yankees.

The events of March 18 seemed like a much bigger deal in spring training compared to the final week of the 2025 season.

Time passed can bring a new perspective.

The Orioles made seven cuts in camp, and catcher Samuel Basallo and first baseman Coby Mayo were the most noticeable names on the list. Basallo was reassigned to Twin Lakes Park, as expected, and Mayo was optioned.

Basallo knew that he’d begin the season with Triple-A Norfolk at age 20, but Mayo expressed his disappointment at a return trip after dominating International League pitching and having 151 games of experience over the previous two years. He spoke at his locker about the difficulty in going back and a “lose-lose” situation, with success expected and failure overblown.

The Orioles called up Mayo on May 3 while placing infielder Ramón Urías on the injured list. He had three hits in his first 25 at-bats and five in 36, but the production improved with more experience and consistent starts. Also, settling at one position removed a distraction.

ATLANTA – It is usually meaningless to try to compare two opposing starting pitchers. With the universal designated hitter, they don’t face each other in the batter’s box anymore. And opposing lineups are constructed differently with different approaches.

But after the level of pitching MacKenzie Gore and Chris Sale put on display in the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Nationals Park – 13 ⅓ scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts between the left-handers – it was hard not to make comparisons between the two ahead of tonight’s rematch.

Unfortunately for Gore, there weren’t too many comparisons to be made between him and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner after this 11-5 loss to open the Nats’ final road series of the 2025 season.

Gore lasted only two-plus innings tonight as the Braves drove up his pitch count by fouling balls off and drawing walks.

“He fell behind," interim manager Miguel Cairo said. "They take good pitches. And they fouled off a lot of pitches, so the pitch count went a little too high. And hey, they were able to lay off his good pitches. But they battled against him today."

The Orioles have returned catcher Adley Rutschman to the active roster for the final six games of the 2025 season.

Rutschman was reinstated today from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a right oblique strain and completing his rehab assignment. Triple-A Norfolk’s season ended yesterday.

Rutschman is hitting .227/.310/.373 with 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 85 games. He’s posted a .264 average and .764 OPS in his last 32 games but has been shut down twice with oblique injuries.

Rookie Samuel Basallo has handled regular catching duties in Rutschman’s absence, with Alex Jackson backing up. Interim manager Tony Mansolino explained yesterday that Rutschman would regain the starting job.

“Adley Rutschman is going to be your catcher here as long as we’ve got him,” Mansolino said. “He’s a really, really good catcher. The beautiful thing about Sammy Basallo is he’s also a very good first baseman. So between the first base position, the DH and the catching position, there is no doubt they can both be in the lineup at the same time pretty much every day.”

NEW YORK – The circus catch in the bottom of the fifth was going to be the highlight of Jacob Young’s day. Shoot, the highlight of his season.

Until the Nationals center fielder found a way to make an even more meaningful catch in the bottom of the ninth.

Maybe the degree of difficulty wasn’t as high, but the magnitude of the moment far exceeded the previous one when Young leaped at the center field wall at Citi Field and robbed Francisco Alvarez of what would’ve been a game-tying homer, helping secure the Nats’ 3-2 victory over the Mets on Sunday afternoon.

“JY shows why he’s the most exciting center fielder in the game,” teammate Jake Irvin said.

On a day in which there was zero margin for error, Young twice saved the Nationals with his glove and twice crushed the souls of the Mets and their sellout crowd.

The Orioles reach another milestone today with their last off-day in 2025.

We’re counting it.

The next break will extend through the winter and into spring training. There could be an instructional camp in January, but we’re not counting it.

Do the last six games on the schedule matter? Winning is better than losing – if we learned anything from Bull Durham – and therefore, yes, a team should keep fighting as a matter of pride and because it’s the job.

Beating the fourth-place Rays at Camden Yards, where their series begins Tuesday night, could lift the Orioles out of the basement. Beating the Yankees in the Bronx over the weekend won’t influence whether the front office is more active in the offseason or becomes convinced that they can contend. Just like losing three of four at Camden Yards doesn't lower their opinion.

The best of Kyle Bradish isn’t displayed in each start since his return from elbow surgery and the 60-day injured list. There’s room to grow, which excites a club that’s been limited financially in its freedom to reach for an ace.

Bradish is here and he’s pitching like one again, carrying a one-hit shutout into the sixth this afternoon before the Orioles' 10th-inning meltdown in a 7-1 loss to the Yankees before an announced crowd of 31,974 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (73-83) dropped three of four games in the series, their chances at a split disappearing with a Keegan Akin fastball to Ben Rice that carried into the right-center field seats for a grand slam. Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered onto the flag court with one out.

Kade Strowd walked Aaron Judge to begin the top of the 10th and Akin entered the game. Cody Bellinger singled to load the bases and Rice unloaded, hitting his second career slam and giving him four hits and five RBIs. Orioles fans were heading for the exits before Chisholm batted. They missed Yaramil Hiraldo allowing a run and the Orioles leaving the bases loaded.x

"You go up and down the lineup, it's an elite lineup, and they have a lot of matchups sitting on the bench on a nightly basis to where they can pop pinch-hitters and make it tough on your relievers," said interim manager Tony Mansolino. "Still liked our guys in the situations they got put in, and unfortunately just didn't go our way."

NEW YORK – On a day that saw Daylen Lile suffer a scary-looking knee injury, Nasim Nuñez homer, Jacob Young make one of the craziest circus catches in team history and Jake Irvin author his best start in two months, the Nationals ultimately had to ask the unlikeliest of relievers to close out a one-run victory over an opponent fighting for its playoff life.

Mitchell Parker, demoted to the bullpen after posting the highest ERA among all qualified major league starters, made his relief debut in a high-leverage situation in the bottom of the sixth, wriggled out of it and then kept on pitching until the Nats had eked out a 3-2 win over the reeling Mets at stunned Citi Field. With Young pulling off another defensive gem in the bottom of the ninth for good measure.

With most of the usual bullpen arms – especially closer Jose A. Ferrer – taxed from Saturday’s 11-inning win, interim manager Miguel Cairo instead turned to Parker for the final 3 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old responded with the poise of a seasoned late-inning reliever, retiring 11 of the 13 batters he faced, with zero margin for error.

"It was a different feeling, but it was a cool one," said Parker, who wound up with the longest save in Nationals history. "A different part of the game, the energy's a little higher, a close game, a big ballpark ... it was all awesome."

As a sellout crowd of 42,960 pleaded with the home team to mount a rally, Parker calmly closed it out in the ninth, with Young robbing Francisco Alvarez of a potential game-tying homer at the center field wall for the first out (this after an even wilder catch three innings earlier).

NEW YORK – Lost in the shuffle of Saturday night’s dramatic win was the play that nearly cost the Nationals the game.

Moments before Daylen Lile hit his go-ahead, inside-the-park homer in the top of the 11th, CJ Abrams was tagged out trying to advance to third base on Andrés Chaparro’s grounder to the left side of the infield. It was a potentially killer mistake on the basepaths, one the Nats were grateful didn’t end up costing them, thanks to Lile’s subsequent heroics.

It also left Abrams with a banged-up right shoulder that forced him from the game and is keeping him out of the lineup for today’s series finale against the Mets.

“He kind of jammed his shoulder,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He told me he was fine, but he was a little sore. So we’re just giving him the day. But he’s going to be ready to pinch-hit if we need to. Just a precaution.”

Abrams was the Nationals’ automatic runner at second base to begin the 11th after making the final out of the 10th, representing the go-ahead run in a tie game. And when Chaparro immediately hit a routine grounder to third baseman Ronny Mauricio, the traditional move for the runner would’ve been to retreat and keep himself in scoring position for the next batter.