Jackson Holliday returns to the Orioles lineup tonight, his first appearance in it since Saturday, for the series opener against the Nationals at Camden Yards.

Adley Rutschman played catch on the field earlier today and is eligible to return from the concussion injured list, but the Orioles haven’t announced a roster move.

Coby Mayo is the designated hitter, and he’s batting fourth. Mayo has a .750 slugging percentage against left-handers this season, which ranks second in the American League in a minimum 50 plate appearances.

Samuel Basallo, who’s behind the plate tonight, hit a home run in each of his first two at-bats against the Angels Wednesday. He’s one of only two catchers age 21 or younger over the past 50 seasons to homer twice in his first two at-bats of a game, joining Francisco Alvarez, according to STATS.

Tyler O’Neill is in right field, Leody Taveras is in center and Blaze Alexander is the third baseman.

Pete Alonso has hit 28 career homers against the Nationals, his second-highest total against any opponent after the Marlins (33).

Taylor Ward has drawn 64 walks, the second-highest total by any Oriole before July after Randy Milligan’s 65 in 1990. Mickey Tettleton have 59 walks in 1990, Albert Belle had 58 in 1999 and Cal Ripken Jr. had 58 in 1988.

Ward has posted a .444 on-base percentage against lefties, second in the American League.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers shut out the Dodgers on one hit over seven innings in his last start to lower his ERA to 5.30. He has a 2.22 ERA and 0.945 WHIP this month in four starts, and opponents are batting .195 with a .500 OPS in 24 1/3 innings.

Rogers has made 11 career starts against the Nationals and posted a 3.88 ERA in 53 1/3 innings. CJ Abrams is 3-for-7 with a double and homer. James Wood is 3-for-3.

The Orioles went 4-5 on the West Coast trip and are 38-44, including 22-19 at home. They’ve lost seven of their last 11 games but are only 1 ½ out of the Wild Card.

The Nationals also are in fourth place, but they’re 41-41 after losing six of eight, including three straight to the Phillies. They’re 24-16 on the road.

Pitching remains an issue for the Nationals, whose 4.75 ERA ranks 27th in the majors. The bullpen was its typical mess against the Phillies, blowing late leads in the last three games, and its 5.05 ERA is the highest in the National League and second-worst in the majors.

Washington has led in 56.1 percent of its games before losing, second most in the majors after Milwaukee’s 58.6, per STATS.

The rotation has a 4.44 ERA that ranks 18th, just behind the Orioles’ 4.42.

Nationals left-hander Andrew Alvarez has a 3.34 ERA in nine games (four starts). He’s struck out 37 and surrendered only two home runs in 32 1/3 innings.

The four starts have come this month, and Alvarez has allowed five runs in 16 2/3 innings. He owns a 2.48 ERA in nine career starts.

Alvarez allowed two runs and struck out five batters in three relief innings against the Orioles on May 15, his second appearance of the 2026 season.

The Orioles lost two of three in D.C. in May. The Nationals have won or tied five consecutive series against the Orioles.

These teams are two of the four that haven’t been shut out at home this season.

The Nationals lead the majors with a .274 average against left-handed pitching.

For the Orioles
Taylor Ward LF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Coby Mayo DH
Tyler O’Neill RF
Samuel Basallo C
Leody Taveras CF
Jackson Holliday 2B
Blaze Alexander 3B

Trevor Rogers LHP

For the Nationals
James Wood RF
Curtis Mead 3B
Andrés Chaparro 1B
CJ Abrams SS
Dylan Crews LF
Daylen Lile DH
Jacob Young CF
Nasim Nuñez 2B
Keibert Ruiz C

Andrew Alvarez LHP

The Nationals are starting left-hander Foster Griffin (8-2, 3.15 ERA) and right-hander Zack Littell (6-6, 5.40 ERA) in the next two games of the series.