The Baltimore Orioles are heading to the DMV for a weekend showdown, and the Washington Nationals are looking to keep the momentum rolling after a mixed bag to start May. Fresh off a tough 14-run loss to close out their series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Nats can still hold their heads high after taking the first two games of that set. A breakout performance from Luis García Jr. and Daylen Lile powered a 10-4 win in Game 1, while Lile's extra-inning home run and a clutch outing from PJ Poulin sealed the deal in Game 2. Now, Washington aims to carry that fire into a three-game series against their Beltway rivals.
The Orioles have been a study in inconsistency this month, going 2-2 through their first four series in May. After taking down the New York Yankees at home, Baltimore has shown flashes of brilliance—but also moments of dysfunction. For the Nationals, this weekend is a golden opportunity to capitalize on those cracks and keep the good times rolling at home.
On the mound for the series opener, the Nats will turn to Littell, who's back in the rotation after a pair of decent outings as an opener. It hasn't been the steady, reliable presence Washington hoped for when they brought him in, as he's struggled to miss bats consistently. Facing Baltimore's hottest hitters will be no easy task, but going up against a fellow scuffling starter makes this matchup feel more manageable on paper.
That starter is Baz, Baltimore's big offseason trade acquisition who has yet to live up to the hype. He's surrendered five earned runs in each of his last two starts, with a staggering eight walks allowed over that span. The key for the Nats? Patience. If they can work the count and force Baz into the command issues that have plagued his early tenure with the Orioles, they'll put themselves in a prime position to strike early.
Looking ahead to the rest of the series, Cade Cavalli remains an enigma. After closing out April with two dominant 10-strikeout performances, he's managed just two and four strikeouts in his last two starts, failing to complete six innings in either outing. His last time out, he hit three Miami batters—a number that simply can't be repeated against a Baltimore lineup that can make you pay for mistakes. If Cavalli can keep the ball in the zone and limit the free passes, he gives the Nats a real shot at victory.
It's been a tale of two extremes for the veteran righty so far in 2026. In four starts, he's allowed one run or fewer, but in his other four outings, he's given up four or more. That flip-flopping trend through the first two months is something Washington will need to even out if they want to make a serious push. But for now, the focus is simple: take care of business this weekend, and keep the DMV buzzing with some winning baseball.