CLEVELAND – Friday night didn’t go particularly well for the Nationals, who totaled one run on four hits and one walk and then watched as a close game blew up on them late, turning into a 7-1 loss to the Guardians. This series is no small task, what with Cleveland having now won 14 of 17 behind excellent pitching and a surprisingly productive lineup.

So it’s up to Mitchell Parker to try to keep the positive pitching vibes going for the Nats today. The last four starters each gave up two or fewer runs. Parker gave up three runs to the Braves his last start, hardly anything to be ashamed about. The rookie left-hander continues to impress, and he’ll once again face a lineup that has never seen him before, which has to play to his advantage.

Only one member of the Nationals lineup has ever faced Ben Lively before: Jesse Winker, who is 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. Otherwise, everyone will be going up against an unknown right-hander, one who has been excellent himself. Like Parker, Lively has yet to allow more than three runs in any start this season.

In other words, expect yet another low-scoring, tight ballgame decided by situational hitting and clean defense. Just like so many games we’ve watched this season.

UPDATE: CJ Abrams has been scratched from today's lineup. He said he jammed his shoulder making a diving play early in Friday night's game. Jacob Young will now bat leadoff, with Ildemaro Vargas taking over at shortstop.

Jordan Westburg remains out of the lineup for tonight’s game against the Rays at Camden Yards.

Westburg has a bruised right hand. He didn’t play Wednesday.

Ramón Urías stays at third base. Colton Cowser is in left field, Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right.

Adley Rutschman is batting .381 against fastballs this season, fourth-highest in the majors per STATS. Eight of his 10 home runs have come off fastballs. Kyle Tucker (13) and Juan Soto (12) are the only players with more.

Albert Suárez stays in the rotation and on turn after replacing injured right-hander Dean Kremer. Suárez tossed four scoreless innings Saturday in Chicago and is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 0.955 WHIP in 11 games (four starts).

CLEVELAND – The Nationals come to town feeling pretty good about themselves. They just took three of four from the Braves in Atlanta, getting some outstanding pitching along the way. Now they face another legitimate challenge in the Guardians, quietly one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Cleveland has won 13 of 16, a stretch that included a nine-game winning streak. This lineup doesn’t feature a whole lot of big names, but it leads the American League in runs scored, so obviously it’s been effective.

It’s up to Patrick Corbin to try to keep that lineup down and keep the Nats’ rotation on a roll. We know that’s easier said than done with the left-hander, who was better in his last start but still gave up four runs in six innings. The issue: home runs. Corbin gave up a pair in that game against the Mariners and three of them before that against the Twins.

The Guardians have some good young pitching as well, and Tanner Bibee falls into that category. The 25-year-old, who finished runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2023, hasn’t been as sharp this season but still enters this one with a 3.99 ERA and only four runs allowed his last three starts combined.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Where: Progressive Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 69 degrees, wind 4 mph in from center field

ATLANTA – A victory tonight will give the Nationals their second win in a four-game series this season, the first coming as a sweep in their only other four-game set to date in Miami last month. 

Trevor Williams will look to continue this dominant stretch by Nats starting pitchers. Nationals starters have pitched to a 2.36 ERA (11 earned runs in 42 innings) with 52 strikeouts and just five walks over the last seven games. Williams contributed to that with five innings of one-run ball, no walks and eight strikeouts on Saturday. He’s 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.078 WHIP in 10 starts.

Williams and Stephen Strasburg (8-0 in 2016) are the only two Nats starters (2005-present) to not suffer a loss through their first 10 starts of a season. Let’s see if Williams can make it 11.

Besides being shut out on Tuesday, the Nats have scored 15 runs this series. They were supposed to face former Nationals farmhand Reynaldo López, but will instead see lefty Ray Kerr. The 29-year-old made his first start on May 24 this season, where he allowed five runs in four innings against the Pirates. 

The original starter López was packaged with Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning in the December 2016 trade with the White Sox for Adam Eaton. He and Giolito were then traded together again last year to the Angels, with López being selected off waivers by the Guardians a month later.

ATLANTA – Two down, two to go. After splitting the first two games, the Nationals now have a chance in the next two days to at least split this four-game set, if not win it.

Although the Nats have outscored the Braves 8-6 so far, all eight of their runs came on Monday, having been shut out in last night’s loss.

They’ll try to get past their struggles against Max Fried and look to attack Spencer Schwellenbach early. The 23-year-old right-hander had his contract selected this morning to make his major league debut tonight. A second-round draft pick out of Nebraska in 2021, Schwellenbach had Tommy John surgery immediately after the draft and started his minor league career last year. He began this season in High-A Rome and was promoted to Double-A Mississippi two weeks ago.

In eight minor league starts this season, Schwellenbach is 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA. He struck out 51 batters in 45 innings and did not allow a run over 13 innings at Double-A.

MacKenzie Gore will oppose the rookie for the Nats. Looking to follow up Jake Irvin’s career night, Gore is 3-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.294 WHIP in 10 starts. He completed seven innings in his last start for the first time this year, allowing just one run and striking out eight in a win against the Mariners. He went 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA and 1.161 WHIP in two starts against the Braves in 2023.

ATLANTA – With yesterday’s 8-4 win, the Nationals have now won the first game in seven of their eight series started this month. But they have only gone on to win two of those series, with one two-game split with the Orioles.

This four-game set with the Braves could, of course, also end in a split. But with another win tonight, the Nats would be closer to an elusive series victory.

The offense, rejuvenated by Lane Thomas’ return to the two hole, jumped all over Charlie Morton on Monday. They’ll look to do the same tonight to Max Fried, who enters 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.057 WHIP. The veteran left-hander is 7-4 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.367 WHIP in 17 career appearances (16 starts) against Washington.

The Nationals spoke last night about the need to keep their foot on the gas against a team like the Braves, whose offense can score in bunches quickly (as they did last night in cutting an eight-run lead in half in the seventh inning). Jake Irvin will be tasked with keeping Atlanta’s bats at bay. He’s 2-5 with a 3.979 ERA and 1.070 WHIP over his first 10 starts. But he gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks in just 2 ⅔ innings in his only career start against the Braves last year.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 7:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 83 degrees, wind 12 mph out to left-center field

The Astros claimed reliever Kaleb Ort on waivers from the Orioles earlier today. The Orioles’ 40-man roster is down to 39 players.

Ort had a 12.08 ERA and 2.447 WHIP in 14 relief appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles acquired him from the Phillies on Feb. 19 for cash considerations.

Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman tonight as the series continues against the Red Sox. Ryan Mountcastle is on the bench.

Cedric Mullins is in center field again after yesterday’s two-run triple. Colton Cowser is in left field and batting cleanup. Kyle Stowers is the designated hitter after going 3-for-4 yesterday with a career-high four RBIs.

Jorge Mateo stays at second base. Fifteen of his 25 hits have gone for extra bases.

ATLANTA – After a stretch of offensive woes, the Nationals got some decent production at the plate over the weekend. They scored a combined 14 runs while taking two of three from the Mariners, missing a chance to sweep the series on Sunday. They’ll hope their bats stay hot in Atlanta as they begin a seven-game road trip.

Isn’t it crazy that it’s Memorial Day and this is the first time the Nats will face the Braves this season? 

Some reinforcements came south with them. Lane Thomas was activated off the 10-day injured list after recovering from his left MCL sprain and playing in four rehab games with Double-A Harrisburg. But that means someone has to come off the active roster, so in a corresponding move, the Nats designated Victor Robles for assignment, seemingly ending his 11-year tenure with the organization. More on that decision coming soon.

The Nats will send Mitchell Parker to the mound for his eighth start. Manager Davey Martinez used Thursday’s off-day to switch up the rotation to give guys some extra rest, so the rookie left-hander will be pitching on two extra days’ rest. He’s 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.158 WHIP after holding the Twins to three runs over six innings with seven strikeouts last week.

Parker will face a Braves lineup without the reigning National League MVP. Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his left ACL yesterday against the Pirates and the team announced last night he will miss the remainder of the year. Acuña also missed significant time in 2021 when he tore his right ACL.

The Orioles have made it home after their 4-3 road trip to St. Louis and Chicago and now they begin a stretch of four straight series versus American League East opponents.

The Orioles (33-18), two games out in the division behind New York, host Boston (27-26), a club that is in third place but is nine games out. Today these teams start a three-game series and run of 14 games for the Orioles against Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Tampa Bay.

After scoring just eight runs on 14 hits in three losses at St. Louis, the O's got more productive offense during the four-game sweep at Chicago. They scored 23 runs on 35 hits with eight doubles and eight homers in that series. They went 7-for-25 with runners in scoring position in winning the games by two, two, two and three runs.

Boston won Sunday to avoid being swept at home by Milwaukee. With that 2-1 win, Boston is an major league-best 9-0 on Sundays, by a combined 58-20 score. 

The Orioles swept Boston April 9-11 at Fenway Park, winning by 7-1, 7-5 and 9-4 scores. Baltimore is 39-22 (.639) in the AL East since the start of last year.

Just about everything that could go right for the Nationals on Friday night did go right. MacKenzie Gore tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Luis García Jr., Keibert Ruiz and Eddie Rosario all hit homers. Hunter Harvey and Dylan Floro each tossed a scoreless inning of relief. And the Nats cruised to an easy 6-1 victory over the Mariners.

Now, can they do it again and actually build some positive momentum for the first time in a couple weeks?

Davey Martinez would love to keep the offense going like this against Logan Gilbert. The right-hander faced the Nationals last summer in Seattle and gave up four runs in six innings. García, Ruiz, Ildemaro Vargas and Riley Adams were all in the lineup that afternoon.

Trevor Williams also pitched in that series, also struggling. The right-hander allowed three runs on eight hits in only four innings, throwing a whopping 83 pitches in the process. Williams, of course, has been a very different pitcher this season, so he will hope to look more like that version of himself this afternoon.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. SEATTLE MARINERS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 86 degrees, wind 9 mph out to left field

The Nationals need to break out of this offensive slump in the worst way. Despite scoring 12 runs in a blowout win over the Twins on Monday, they have scored two or fewer runs in seven of their last 11 games, losing nine overall. They have scored the second-fewest runs in the National League this season (Cardinals) and are in the lower third of the league with a .237 average with runners in scoring position.

The Nats will try again to get going tonight against Mariners starter George Kirby, who has been a mixed bag to start the year. While the young right-hander has four shutout starts, he also has four outings with four or more earned runs charged to his line, leading to an ERA of 3.99.

The offensive woes are especially frustrating since the Nats have received some solid pitching performances that have gone to waste lately: The pitching staff has given up four or fewer runs in nine of the last 11 games. MacKenzie Gore will look to continue that trend on the mound in his 10th turn in the rotation while coming off back-to-back quality starts for the first time this year.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. SEATTLE MARINERS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees, wind 5 mph from right to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Eddie Rosario
DH Joey Meneses
2B Luis García Jr. 
LF Jesse Winker
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo 
CF Jacob Young

CHICAGO – Jordan Westburg is batting fifth tonight and playing third base in the series opener in Chicago.

Colton Cowser is in left field, Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right.

Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman, with Ryan O’Hearn serving as designated hitter.

Adley Rutschman leads the Orioles with 56 hits. He joins Milwaukee’s William Contreras (65) as the only catchers ranking first on their teams.

Grayson Rodriguez has a streak of 12 straight scoreless innings, third-longest by an Orioles starter behind Cole Irvin’s 22 2/3 and Albert Suárez’s 12 1/3.

The Orioles completed their suspended game today with a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals, setting up this afternoon’s series finale before the charter flight to Chicago.

A win is needed to prevent the sweepless streak in the regular season from ending at 106 series.

Nolan Gorman hit a two-run homer off Keegan Akin in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Akin inherited a runner from Jacob Webb.

Ryan Mountcastle singled today to interrupt a 1-for-26 slump. He’s on the bench for the second game.

Left-hander Nick Vespi was added as the 27^th man. The Cardinals added right-hander Chris Roycroft.

You couldn’t draw up more extreme polar opposites for the first two games of a series than what we just experienced. The Nationals blew out the Twins on Monday night, 12-3. Then the Twins blew out the Nationals on Tuesday night, 10-0. So who knows what to expect in today’s matinee finale?

The Nats have to get a better start from Jake Irvin than they got from Patrick Corbin. Irvin, native of Bloomington, Minn., will be plenty motivated facing his hometown team. He’s coming off a bit of a rough outing in Philadelphia, where he gave up four runs in five innings against a very good lineup. He’ll try to provide some more length this afternoon.

Simeon Woods Richardson, today’s Minnesota starter, has been very good, entering this one with a 2.97 ERA and a 25-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. But the right-hander made only one big league appearance last year, and it happened to come against the Nationals. Who roughed him up for five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MINNESOTA TWINS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Eddie Rosario
LF Jesse Winker
DH Joey Meneses
2B Luis García Jr.
3B Ildemaro Vargas
1B Joey Gallo
C Riley Adams
CF Jacob Young

Ryan Mountcastle is in tonight’s lineup at first base, as the Orioles try to even their series in St. Louis.

Mountcastle came off the bench last night. He hadn’t been in the lineup for two of the last three games.

Kyle Stowers is in right field. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Anthony Santander, playing with a bruised left knee, is on the bench.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup again.

The Nationals ended their losing streak and extended the Twins’ losing streak with a blowout win Monday night. Now they’ll look to make it two in a row and generate some positive momentum for the first time in a couple weeks.

They’ll hand the ball tonight to Patrick Corbin, who has quietly strung together some solid starts. In five outings since April 23, he’s 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA, limiting damage while surrendering only one home run. He’ll look to keep that up against a Twins club that has scored only 12 runs during its seven-game losing streak.

The Nats lineup finally busted out Monday for 12 runs, scoring thanks to a combination of home runs, clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning. They really are at their best when they can do all three things, and they’ll try to do it again tonight against Joe Ryan, Minnesota’s 27-year-old right-hander who has been quite good with a 1.019 WHIP and 58 strikeouts to only seven walks.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MINNESOTA TWINS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, wind 9 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Eddie Rosario
LF Jesse Winker
DH Joey Meneses
2B Luis García Jr.
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo
C Keibert Ruiz
CF Jacob Young

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the Orioles lineup again tonight to begin a three-game series in St. Louis.

Mountcastle sat out Saturday's game and played first base yesterday. He had two doubles and a triple on May 11 but has one hit in his last 20 at-bats. He hasn’t drawn a walk since April 24.

Anthony Santander, who’s receiving treatment on a bruised and swollen left knee, is the designated hitter.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup for the second time in his career.

Cedric Mullins is in center field. Mullins stole his 100^th career base yesterday and needs three more to tie Corey Patterson for eighth in club history.

The Nationals’ schedule has been pretty wonky to begin this season. They’ve played 28 road games, only 17 home games. They’ve played 20 interleague games, only 10 intradivision games. The good news: They’re back home after a tough, 2-7 road trip. But they’re back to facing American League teams all week, with the Twins here for three and then the Mariners coming to town this weekend.

A Nats lineup that did sort of break out for five runs Sunday in Philadelphia (only three of those runs coming early, when the game was still close) will see a sort of familiar face tonight in Pablo López. The former Marlins right-hander is in his second season in Minnesota and comes into this start with a 4-3 record and 3.93 ERA. The Nats faced López on a cold night at Target Field last year and got to him for five runs in four innings.

The Twins will be seeing Mitchell Parker for the first time. The rookie left-hander continues to exceed expectations in his first month-plus in the big leagues, and he still hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start up here. He’ll try to hold down a Twins lineup that ranks in the middle of the pack in the AL so far in most offensive categories.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. MINNESOTA TWINS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 6 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
RF Eddie Rosario
LF Jesse Winker
DH Joey Meneses
2B Luis García Jr.
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo
C Keibert Ruiz
CF Jacob Young

Adley Rutschman gets a rare day off this afternoon as the Orioles conclude their series against the Mariners at Camden Yards. They also have reached the end of their three-opponent homestand.

Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in right field while Anthony Santander receives treatment on a bruised left knee.

Austin Hays stays in the lineup in left field. Jordan Westburg is batting second for the first time in his career.

Ryan Mountcastle returns to the lineup. He hasn’t drawn a walk this month.

Corbin Burnes is working on an extra day of rest. He has a 2.68 ERA and 1.006 WHIP in nine games despite averaging 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings, the lowest of his career.

PHILADELPHIA – A difficult road trip comes to an end this afternoon for the Nationals, who lost two of three in Boston, then two of three in Chicago and now have to win today just to avoid getting swept by the Phillies. The crazy part of it all: They’ve lost five of these six games by either one or two runs. The combined score on this road trip is 25-20 for the opponents, despite the lopsided record.

But today’s a new day, and maybe the Nats will finally score enough runs to win a game. They’ve had no trouble giving themselves chances (they currently rank sixth in the majors in plate appearances with runners in scoring position!), but they’ve had all kinds of trouble converting those chances (they rank 23rd in RBIs in those situations).

Trevor Williams will look to continue his wildly impressive start to the season, hoping to keep this daunting Phillies lineup in check. Williams finally surrendered his first homer of the year last time out in Chicago. Can he keep Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Co. inside Citizens Bank Park this afternoon? The fate of the Nationals may rest on that challenge.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 72 degrees, wind 8 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
2B Ildemaro Vargas
RF Eddie Rosario
DH Luis García Jr.
3B Nick Senzel
1B Joey Gallo
C Keibert Ruiz
LF Jesse Winker
CF Jacob Young