Coby Mayo started at third base Friday night as the Orioles opened a series against the Nationals in Washington, one of several lineup changes Baltimore used while waiting for answers on a roster that has been thinned by injuries.
Colton Cowser started in center field, Samuel Basallo was the designated hitter, Tyler O'Neill was in right and Jeremiah Jackson started at second. The Orioles had not made a roster move Friday to replace outfielder Dylan Beavers, and Maverick Handley remained on the roster as a third catcher. Blaze Alexander's ability to play the outfield gave Baltimore extra coverage if the club needed it.
The game came with more uncertainty than usual for a team still trying to keep pace in the division. Jordan Westburg underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles, and Orioles general manager Mike Elias called the procedure “pretty normal.” On the mound, Ryan Helsley played catch Friday for the first time since landing on the injured list with an elbow injury, a small step for a bullpen that needs reinforcements.
Baltimore entered at 20-24 after winning three of its last four games and sat in third place. Washington was 21-23 and tied with the Phillies for second. The clubs had already built some recent history: the Nationals swept the Orioles in a three-game series at Camden Yards in May 2025, then won two of three in Washington a month later. Baltimore was 22-3 in Washington when it held the Nationals to three runs or fewer, a reminder that these meetings can swing fast in either direction.
Zack Littell drew the assignment for Washington, and the numbers behind him explained why the Orioles had a chance to attack early. Littell signed with the Nationals in March for a guaranteed $7 million and can add $2.5 million in incentives based on innings. His deal also includes a $12 million mutual option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout, but right now the focus is on performance, not contract structure. He came in 1-4 with a 6.94 ERA and a 1.596 WHIP in 36 1/3 innings, and he had allowed 14 home runs, most in the majors.
That matched a season trend for Washington that has been hard to ignore. The Nationals were 6-13 at home but 15-10 on the road, and they had won five of their last eight games even while their pitching staff kept giving back runs. Their.731 OPS ranked fourth in the National League and seventh in the majors, but their 5.01 ERA ranked last in the National League and 29th overall. The rotation carried a 5.28 ERA, while the bullpen's 4.81 mark also sat last in the league, and relievers had surrendered 30 home runs, the most in the National League and second in baseball behind Houston's 34.
For Baltimore, the matchup is part of a stretch that has demanded patience and flexibility. The Orioles are trying to stay afloat with injuries, shifting positions and a lineup that can look different from one night to the next. Mayo at third is the latest version of that search, and the real question is whether these patchwork moves can hold long enough for the roster to get healthier and more stable.
