Orioles at Nationals
The Baltimore Orioles had to wait for it, but they finally got a win over their regional rivals. After snapping a six-game slide against the Washington Nationals, the Orioles will try to make it two straight when the teams wrap up a three-game interleague set in the nation's capital Thursday.
The teams endured a rain delay of nearly three hours Wednesday night before Baltimore finished off a 3-0 win, its second triumph in four days following a nine-game losing streak. Mark Trumbo's two-run homer prior to the rain delay was all the Orioles would need as five pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Nationals star Bryce Harper continued his slide with four hitless trips to the plate, falling to 2-for-32 over a nine-game span. Washington ace Max Scherzer gets the start Thursday for the hosts as he attempts to duplicate a dominant outing at Baltimore on May 30, when he yielded two hits and fanned 12 in eight scoreless innings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (3-6, 4.48 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (10-3, 2.06)
Gausman is 0-4 with a 6.61 ERA over his last six starts - all of which Baltimore has lost. He's been more competitive in his last two outings and limited the Miami Marlins to two runs with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings on Friday. Trea Turner is 3-for-3 against the LSU product, who gave up 10 runs on 16 hits and three walks over 10 innings in his first two career starts at Nationals Park.
Scherzer has been on the wrong end of back-to-back 2-0 losses, allowing just four total runs and striking out 19 across 13 innings over that span. Prior to the two-game losing streak, the three-time Cy Young Award winner had won nine consecutive decisions - including the appearance at Camden Yards that left him 6-2 with a 2.87 ERA against the Orioles. Adam Jones is 13-for-32 with four homers and three doubles against Scherzer, while Manny Machado and Trumbo are a combined 3-for-41 with 21 strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon is 11-for-21 over his last six games.
2. Washington placed IB/OF Matt Adams on the 10-day disabled list due to a broken finger.
3. Baltimore optioned INF Corban Joseph to Double-A Bowie to make room on the roster for RHP Andrew Cashner, who came off the DL to start Wednesday's game.