The Battle of the Beltways has been a thrilling saga this season, with the Orioles and Nationals each claiming two victories apiece. Last night's showdown at Camden Yards saw the Orioles edge out a 3-1 win, setting the stage for another intriguing matchup tonight. The O's are banking on Brandon Young, who has emerged as an unexpected ace in their rotation, to keep the momentum rolling.
It's quite the narrative twist: "Brandon Young, their most reliable starter." Not exactly the storyline Orioles fans were predicting at the start of 2026.
Yet here we are, with Young, a second-year right-hander who began the season buried deep on the depth chart, now boasting a 6-2 record and a 3.07 ERA over 12 starts. The Orioles are a remarkable 10-2 when he takes the mound.
Talk about a game-changer.
However, Young has had his hiccups, notably against these very Nationals back on May 17. He struggled, allowing two runs and eight baserunners in just 3.2 innings, despite being handed a comfortable five-run lead.
The bullpen had to rescue him from a bases-loaded predicament in the fourth. Adding to the drama, he surrendered a home run to Jacob Young, who, fortunately for the O's, isn't in the lineup tonight.
On the bump for the Nationals is lefty Foster Griffin. Once a first-round pick who struggled to find his footing in the majors, Griffin has revitalized his career after a stint in Japan.
This season, he's sporting a commendable 3.15 ERA across 16 starts. The Orioles will be tweaking their lineup a bit, with Jackson Holliday sitting out after returning from a groin strain last night.
Instead, Chadwick Tromp, a familiar face for the Orioles, will make his first start of the season after being reacquired. He'll take over catching duties from Samuel Basallo against the southpaw.
Here's how the Orioles are lining up tonight:
- LF Taylor Ward
- SS Gunnar Henderson
- 1B Pete Alonso
- DH Coby Mayo
- RF Tyler O’Neill
- 3B Blaze Alexander
- CF Leody Taveras
- 2B Jeremiah Jackson
- C Chadwick Tromp
- RHP Brandon Young
And for the Nationals:
- LF James Wood
- 1B Luis García Jr.
- DH José Tena
- SS CJ Abrams
- CF Dylan Crews
- LF Daylen Lile
- 3B Jorbit Vivas
- 2B Nasim Nuñez
- C Drew Millas
- LHP Foster Griffin
As the Orioles and Nationals prepare to square off once more, all eyes will be on Young to see if he can deliver another stellar performance and help the O's take the lead in this tightly contested series.
In Other News...
Mike Elias Just Made Orioles Fans Revisit One Uncomfortable Question
The Orioles latest loss only deepened a stretch of uneven play that has put the teams direction back in focus, and it left Mike Elias in the familiar spot of having to reassure a frustrated fan base before the next game. The general manager met reporters with a message of confidence about where the organization is headed, while also stressing that the club is still working to turn its talent and planning into the kind of results Baltimore expected to see by now.
Elias also spoke candidly about the pressure that comes with his job, a reminder that this is not just about a rough night or even a rough week, but about the long view attached to every step the Orioles take. For a front office that has built up plenty of goodwill, the bigger question now is whether the current approach can deliver quickly enough to keep that optimism from turning into something a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Let Another Winnable Home Game Slip Away For One Brutal Reason
A winnable afternoon at Camden Yards slipped away in familiar fashion, with the Orioles showing enough early life at the plate to hint at a good result before the game turned into a grind. Baltimore had the chance to keep the pressure on Washington, but the Nationals kept finding cracks in the inning-by-inning rhythm and stayed in position to spoil the day.
Luis Garca Jr. was the biggest problem, driving Washingtons offense with a big extra-base day that included a home run and kept the Orioles from ever fully settling in. Baltimore did fight back late and had a path to make the finish interesting, but the margin was gone by then, and the loss cost the club the series as it fell to 39-46. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elias Just Raised The Stakes Of Adley Rutschmans Return
Mike Elias spent Tuesday trying to steady the conversation around an Orioles team that has been forced to navigate recent struggles while waiting for key pieces to come back. The president of baseball operations still sounded confident about the clubs direction, and Baltimore answered with a pair of roster moves that brought Adley Rutschman and Dylan Beavers back into the mix while Jeremiah Jackson and Sam Huff were moved out to clear space.
For the Orioles, the timing matters as much as the names. Getting Rutschman back helps reset the lineup and the clubhouse mood, and Beavers return adds another option at a time when the club is trying to rediscover its footing. Elias also made clear the front office is watching how July unfolds before making any hard deadline calls, so the next stretch of games may end up shaping not just Baltimores season, but how aggressively it tries to fortify the roster. [Read more 🡒]