Opposite dugout: Gausman on hill as hot-pitching O's look to take season series from Nats

Manager: Buck Showalter, fifth year Record: 62-48 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: LF Nelson Cruz (.262/.332/.518, 19 doubles, 29 HR, 75 RBIs, 61 R); CF Adam Jones (.284/.311/.480, 21 doubles, 21 HR, 68 RBIs, 63 R); 3B Manny Machado (.276/.320/.432, 13 doubles, 11 HR, 28 RBIs); RHP Kevin Gausman (5-3, 3.70 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 14 runs scored, 11 runs allowed Pitching probable Aug. 4: Kevin Gausman vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD Series breakdown The Orioles and Nationals meet for one last time this season, a one-off produced by a July 8 rainout that again puts regional bragging rights on the line between the first-place clubs. The Orioles will be looking to take the season series for the third straight year while the Nats are targeting a split for the first time since 2011. The Orioles' powerful offense might be struggling lately, but their pitching staff sure isn't. Since June 9, Baltimore's starting pitchers have combined for a 3.05 ERA. As a whole, Orioles pitching ranked fourth in the majors in July with a 2.96 ERA. That has the Birds up to fifth in the American League with a 3.67 team ERA and 3.31 bullpen ERA, as well as seventh with a 3.89 rotation ERA. Tonight brings an exciting pitching match-up between rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman and one of the Nats' top starters, Tanner Roark. Gausman is considered a potential top-of-the-rotation talent and a big part of the Orioles' future. The 23-year-old entered the season as the Orioles' second-best prospect, according to Baseball America. With 10 starts this year, Gausman has graduated from prospect status and is 5-3 with a 3.70 ERA. He has been especially strong his last two starts, allowing four runs in 13 2/3 innings (2.63 ERA) since permitting five runs in four frames on July 20. The Nats answer with Roark, who leads the team's rotation with 11 wins and ranks second with a 2.74 ERA, the 10th-best mark in the NL. The 27-year-old is 4-0 with four earned runs in 28 innings over his last four starts for a 1.29 ERA. The Orioles also have one of the best bullpens in the league, one they upgraded with the addition of former Red Sox left-hander Andrew Miller at the trade deadline. Miller has pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 44 innings this season. He joins closer Zach Britton (23 saves, 1.59 ERA) and right-hander Darren O'Day (1.10 ERA) in a formidable end-of-game trio. That kind of pitching has helped the Orioles go 30-18 over their last 48 games. Lately, the winning has continued despite an offense that has struggled for nearly a month. The Orioles have scored more than four runs just twice in 21 games since July 9. That has sunk Baltimore to the middle of the AL pack in several categories. The Orioles rank eighth with 458 runs and a .256 average while standing seventh with a .720 OPS. They still rank second in the majors with 131 homers. Even with the offense scuffling, the Orioles have won nine of their last 13 games. Outfielder Nelson Cruz continues to rank among major league leaders with 29 homers and 75 RBIs. But he is batting just .110 with one homer and two RBIs in his last 20 games. Center fielder Adam Jones has added 21 doubles, 21 homers and 68 RBIs. Third baseman Manny Machado is batting .370 in his last 20 games and right fielder Nick Markakis is 6-for-11 (.546) over his last three contests. Tonight, the Orioles meet a fellow first-place club in the Nats, with both teams hoping to capitalize on a chance to increase their division lead to four games with the second-place Braves and Blue Jays both off.