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The last time the O's and Nats met, Baltimore was swept in three games, getting outscored 11-2. Camden Yards was the location of the previous series, so this matchup will be in enemy territory. This will also be the final series of the season between these teams.
Bryce Harper's batting average for the year is .212 and the Nationals offense as a whole has not been impressive. They rank 22nd in the majors in batting average and 21st in OPS. Pitching has been the team's strength, seeing as they rank near the top of the major leagues in several categories. The Nats are fourth in BAA (.225), third in ERA (3.38) and fourth in strikeouts (667, in 629 IP). As a team, they have also allowed the second fewest walks in all of baseball.
The Nationals are only 3-7 in their last 10 games and they played a doubleheader yesterday against the Yankees. The Nats won the first game, the conclusion of a previously suspended game, by a score of 5-3 and the Yankees won game two, 4-2. We'll see how the Nationals rebound against the Orioles this evening.
Washington will send Jefry Rodriguez to the mound. It will be the first major league start for the 24-year-old right-hander. His first major league appearance was on June 3 when he relieved an injured Jeremy Hellickson with one out in the first inning. Rodriguez would go on to pitch 4.2 scoreless innings in that game. With Double-A Harrisburg this year, he has pitched 68 innings with a 28:72 BB/SO ratio, 4.76 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
David Hess gets the call for the Orioles and he comes in with a 2-3 record, 4.13 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He last started on June 12 against Boston, seven days ago, and it was his shortest outing of the year. Over 3.1 innings he gave up five runs, including five hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Before that game, he had thrown three consecutive quality starts. Hess last faced the Nationals on May 30 at Camden Yards, and he took a hard luck loss after giving up only one run over six innings.
In other Orioles news, Pedro Alvarez has been designated for assignment and infielder Steve Wilkerson's contract has been purchased from Norfolk. Also, Chris Davis is once again absent from the starting lineup. This is the sixth consecutive game that he has been benched.