When the Nationals needed to clear a roster for Dylan Crews’ return from the 60-day injured list last week, they chose to designate starting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for assignment and keep seldom-used infielder Jose Tena.

Now, after a four-game split with the Phillies, the Nats have sent Tena down in favor of another first baseman.

The club announced following Sunday’s wild 11-9 loss it had optioned Tena to Triple-A Rochester. No corresponding move was announced, but a source familiar with the decision confirmed the plan to promote Andres Chaparro, which was first reported by Rochester journalist Dan Glickman.

This set of transactions underscores several points: 1) Tena really wasn’t likely to get much playing time, even though he did start a couple of games over the weekend, 2) Chaparro provides a needed right-handed bat to a lineup that has been too lefty-heavy and 3) The Nationals dropped Lowe not because they needed to, but because they wanted to.

Regarding that final point, the decision to designate Lowe caught many by surprise, given his status as one of the team’s only experienced position players and the fact his $10.3 million salary was tops on the roster this year. But it had become clear over the last month-plus that Lowe simply wasn’t producing enough, and that his continued presence didn’t match up with the organization’s intended plan in both the short- and long-term.

Anyone else want to play the outfield?

The Orioles aren’t holding tryouts but there’s a little experimenting with Jeremiah Jackson, who started in right again yesterday. Dylan Beavers will get plenty of starts in the corners – right Saturday and left yesterday. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said the organization’s No. 3 prospect isn’t here to sit.

Colton Cowser moves back to center field after being planted in left prior to his concussion. Greg Allen, Jordyn Adams, Daniel Johnson and Ryan Noda are gone. Tyler O’Neill is coming back, perhaps in early September.

(Adams had a triple and home run Friday night with Triple-A Norfolk and was ejected by the plate umpire after striking out. But we digress …)

Noda was listed as an infielder on the active roster, but he made three of his five career starts in right field with the Orioles.

HOUSTON – “For a lot of the year, for the first month and a half, there were a lot of nights when we probably looked like the worst team in major league baseball,” Tony Mansolino said after Friday night’s dominant win over the Astros. 

“We were probably 30th of 30 how we played the first month and a half. Tonight, for nine innings, we looked like the best team in baseball in all facets of the game. On the mound, defensively, and then also at the plate.” 

Today, the Orioles excelled in all facets once again in a dominant 12-0 victory. 

"The Friday night game, the game today, we’ve played really well, and we’ve played well for a while now," the interim skipper said today. 

After taking two of three against a playoff-caliber Mariners team, they took two of three against a playoff-caliber Astros team. Baltimore didn’t play favorites with who they want to win the American League West. 

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• C Maverick Handley (right wrist sprain) was returned from his rehab assignment, reinstated from the 10-day Injured List, and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Consider this morning’s series finale on South Capitol Street a play in four acts, the second portion a hope-filled drama, the opening and third ones a full-blown Shakespearean tragedy before the final one left the crowd yearning for more but ultimately unsatisfied.

The encouraging portions came entirely during the third and ninth innings, when the Nationals erased a sizeable deficit and turned what looked like it would be another unsightly blowout in a day game into a suddenly competitive affair.

Alas, that alone wasn’t going to be enough to top the Phillies. An ugly opening to this 11:35 a.m. matinee from Mitchell Parker and the Nats defense, then a slog of a final six innings by the bullpen ultimately equaled an 11-9 loss to the Phillies.

Despite a spirited rally from down 6-0 to tied 6-6 in the third, then Paul DeJong's three-run homer in the ninth to turn 11-6 into 11-9, the Nationals couldn't finish the job. Daylen Lile doubled to bring the tying run to the plate and force Philadelphia closer Jhoan Duran into the game. But Duran won an eight-pitch battle with Dylan Crews, then struck out pinch-hitter James Wood on three pitches to end the game.

"I think it just shows the heart we've got," Crews said. "It takes a lot to come out here and play a really good team like that. We do an excellent job of not giving up, especially in the late innings."

HOUSTON – All eyes are on the future of the Orioles. Calling up one of the best prospects in baseball only fuels that fire. 

On Friday, Brandon Young came within four outs of a perfect game. Yesterday, Dylan Beavers made his long-anticipated debut. 

And today, for the grand finale, Samuel Basallo, the No. 8 prospect in the game, according to MLB Pipeline, puts on an Orioles jersey for the very first time in the big leagues. 

His dad was the one to call and tell him that he had made the Show. 

“There’s no better feeling than getting that phone call from your family,” Basallo said this morning, via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “My dad is very special to me, he means a lot to me. To get that phone call from him and from my family, it means everything.” 

The infusion of top prospects in the Orioles’ roster is reflected in today’s lineup for the series finale in Houston.

Samuel Basallo is making his debut at designated hitter. He’s batting sixth.

Basallo is the 62^nd player to appear in a game, tying the franchise record set in 2021.

Dylan Beavers is in left field after collecting his first major league hit last night.

Colton Cowser returned from the concussion injured list this morning and he’s in center field, one spot ahead of Basallo.

One day after the Orioles selected outfielder Dylan Beavers’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk, introducing one of the organization’s top prospects to the majors, they did the same with catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo.

The top guy is here.

Basallo wasn’t in Norfolk’s lineup last night and he joined the team in Houston for this afternoon’s series finale. MLB Pipeline ranked Basallo eighth in its Top 100 and Baseball America has him seventh.

Basallo, who just turned 21, is batting .270/.377/.589 with 17 doubles, 23 home runs and 67 RBIs in 76 games. The contact is loud and violent. He sends baseballs sailing over scoreboards and stands.

“He’s grown a lot this year,” Norfolk manager Tim Federowicz said yesterday. “Obviously, he has a ton of power. He’s hitting the ball hard. Not sure on the timetable on that (promotion), but I’m sure it’s gonna happen at some point.”

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of C/1B Samuel Basallo from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 29 and his first appearance will be his MLB debut.
• Reinstated OF Colton Cowser from the 7-day concussion Injured List.
• Optioned OF Daniel Johnson and 1B/OF Ryan Noda to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
• Transferred RHP Zach Eflin (low back discomfort) to the 60-day Injured List.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

What an unexpected weekend this has become. The Nationals have strung together three consecutive quality starts. And the bullpen, in spite of an ugly top of the seventh Friday night, has only been scored upon in one of eight innings so far in this series against the Phillies, leading to two wins and one other highly competitive game. And now we come to the finale, with an unlikely opportunity to win three of four from the division leaders.

That, of course, is easier said than done, for several reasons. It begins with Mitchell Parker, who takes the mound today on the heels of three straight subpar starts in which he’s allowed a total of 17 runs in only 14 1/3 innings. That stretch has raised his ERA to an unsightly 5.55. The lefty is going to have to be significantly better today against the Philly lineup, especially out of the chute in the top of the first. And even if he does his job, the Nats bullpen is going to be without closer Jose A. Ferrer, who recorded six outs Saturday and has recorded at least four outs three times in his last four appearances.

At the plate, the Nationals actually haven’t done that much this weekend, totaling seven runs in three games. Given their own pitching concerns, they probably need a big day at the plate against Aaron Nola (making his return from the injured list) to give themselves their best shot at a win.

A friendly reminder: Today’s game has an extra-early 11:35 a.m. first pitch, and it’s being televised exclusively on the Roku streaming service. It’s a joint booth calling the game, pairing up Phillies play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy with Nats analyst Kevin Frandsen, plus the one and only Dan Kolko serving as sideline reporter.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 11:35 a.m. EDT
TV: Roku
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 93 degrees, wind 6 mph out to center field

Tim Federowicz is more than halfway through his first season replacing Buck Britton as manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He inherited a team and a specific responsibility.

Telling a player that he’s going to the majors.

And Friday night, informing one of the top prospects in the organization that he’s flying to Houston to join the Orioles. That it’s finally happening.

“Um, real quick,” Federowicz said in the visiting clubhouse at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville. “Got a lot of questions about this the last couple weeks, so I’m just gonna answer in front of everybody. Dylan Beavers, you’re going to The Show.”

The Orioles posted the video on social media, which showed Beavers stand up, tip his cap, walk through the celebratory gantlet of back slaps and embrace Federowicz.

HOUSTON – The August schedule isn't an easy one for Baltimore. 

With inexperience everywhere, the O's have had to face the two crown jewels of the American League West, the Mariners and Astros, in two consecutive series. 

Baltimore took two of three against Seattle. And after taking game one in Houston, the Birds fought tooth and nail in Game 2. 

In the end, though, it was Houston that came away with a 5-4 victory in 12 innings. 

And, of course, it was Ramón Urías. Last night, the former Oriole broke up Brandon Young's perfect game bid. Tonight, he walked it off. Another slow dribbler to third, and another heartbreaker. 

In these, the dog days of August during a miserable season, there are still distinct glimmers of light for the Nationals. For all the chaos they’ve endured this year, there remain more than a few prominent young core players who still have the ability to make 2025 meaningful in the larger picture.

And when they come together like they did today during a 2-0 victory over the Phillies, it reminds suffering fans and team employees alike there’s still some hope for what lies ahead.

"The pieces are there," James Wood said. "We've just got to continue to learn and grow. I think wins like this are great. I think everyone in this locker room here knows we have the potential to play with anybody. It's just a matter of doing it consistently, and stringing together days like today."

It was right there for 36,042 paying customers to see on a steamy Saturday afternoon, with Cade Cavalli authoring seven scoreless innings against one of the most intimidating lineups in baseball. It extended to the batter’s box, where the Nationals scored both of their runs in the bottom of the fifth via Wood’s two-out double, with recent first-round picks Dylan Crews and Brady House coming around to score.

And it was even there on the mound for the final two innings, with Jose A. Ferrer recording the final six outs for his third career save, the young lefty retiring the Phillies’ biggest names to lock up the victory and ensure at least a four-game weekend split against the National League East leaders.

HOUSTON – The second half of the Orioles’ 2025 season won’t go the way that many had expected. 

Baltimore won’t be competing for an American League East crown, nor will O’s fans be keeping an eye on wild card playoff spots. Instead, the excitement will come from memorable moments, encouraging signs for the future, and individual accomplishments. 

Last night, Brandon Young provided the excitement. The rookie tossed 7 ⅔ innings of perfect baseball before surrendering his first hit with one out to go in the eighth. He did so in front of family and friends, who made the short trip from Lumberton, TX to watch Young deliver the best start of his young career. 

Today, it’s Dylan Beavers who provides the excitement, making his MLB debut as one of the O’s most anticipated prospect promotions. 

“It’s super exciting,” Beavers said this afternoon. “It’s what I’ve kind of been working for my entire life. But there’s nerves, too, kind of uncertainty in not knowing when it’s going to happen. A little bit of a mixed bag of emotions, but yeah, exciting.” 

Dylan Beavers is making his major league debut tonight, starting in right field and batting sixth in Houston. He’s the 61^st player used by the Orioles this season, one short of the franchise record set in 2021.

Daniel Johnson is in center field and Dylan Carlson is in left.

Coby Mayo stays at first base, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter. Get used to it.

One night after rookie Brandon Young tossed a perfect game for 7 2/3 innings, the Orioles are using Rico Garcia as an opener.

What a weird season.

As the Nationals took the field for batting practice Friday afternoon, Miguel Cairo motioned to Keibert Ruiz and José Tena to come join him at first base. To field grounders. And make some throws. And learn a little bit about a position neither of them has ever played before in a game.

It made for quite the scene, both because the 51-year-old interim manager was showing off his own still-solid glove skills and because the sight of Ruiz at something other than the catcher’s position made for an obvious question: Are the Nats thinking about moving him to first base at some point?

“No, no, no. It’s nothing like we’re planning to do it,” Ruiz said today.

As the 27-year-old catcher, out since early July with a concussion, explained: This is a way for him to get some on-field activity without putting himself at risk of further health problems. From a psychological standpoint, doctors have told him to try to stay engaged and react to baseball movements without thinking about the concussion.

“Kind of to put your mind away from: ‘Oh, I have to be careful,’” Ruiz said. “It’s nothing like I’m going to play first base now.”

Two games into this four-game series, the Nationals and Phillies have each won once. Each was a competitive game decided late by the bullpens. It’s kind of been fun to watch, hasn’t it? So, what’s in store for game three of the weekend set later this afternoon?

The headline attraction from the Nats’ standpoint is Cade Cavalli, who makes his third start of the season (fourth of his career). The first one (against the Athletics) was outstanding. The second one (against the Royals) was decent. This one comes against a far more imposing lineup, so we’re going to find out a lot about the 27-year-old rookie when he goes up against Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Co. (Oh, and by the way, Cavalli is scheduled to face them again next week in Philadelphia.)

Taijuan Walker takes the mound for the Phillies, and the Nationals have already faced him this season, scoring four runs in 5 2/3 innings back on May 1. He was shifted to a bullpen a month later, but he’s back in the rotation now and has a 2.93 ERA over his last six starts.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 88 degrees, wind 6 mph out to left field

PHILLIES
SS Trea Turner
DH Kyle Schwarber
1B Bryce Harper
C J.T. Realmuto
LF Brandon Marsh
CF Harrison Bader
RF Max Kepler
3B Edmundo Sosa
2B Bryson Stott

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of OF Dylan Beavers from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 12 and his first appearance will be his MLB debut.
• Designated OF Greg Allen for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

One wait is over.

The Orioles are selecting outfielder Dylan Beavers’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk, one day after the date to retain his rookie eligibility for 2026.

Outfielder Greg Allen was designated for assignment to create room. Beavers will wear No. 12 and he could be in tonight’s lineup against Astros right-hander Jason Alexander.

Beavers could have bloodied his knuckles from the hard knocks on the major league door.

The 33^rd-overall draft pick in 2022 is batting .304/.420/.515 with 14 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 51 RBIs, 68 walks, 74 strikeouts and 23 stolen bases in 94 games in his fourth professional season. He was the designated hitter last night in Jacksonville.

No pitcher in the history of the Baltimore Orioles has thrown a perfect game.

No one could have anticipated that a rookie carrying a 6.70 ERA in his first 10 major league starts would get within four outs.

Brandon Young is a big fan of classic rock. His outing last was an instant classic, and boy, did he rock. He retired 23 batters in a row before former Oriole Ramón Urías reached on an infield single in the eighth inning in the Orioles’ 7-0 victory over the Astros at Daikin Park.

Urías sent a chopper to the left side and Young made a barehand grab. He threw off his back foot and the ball sailed past first baseman Coby Mayo for a hit and error.

Young probably had time to plant and throw but understandably was in a rush.