Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.34 ERA) gets the ball for Washington against Trevor Rogers (4-7, 5.30 ERA) in a 7:05 PM ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Rogers just turned in 7 scoreless innings against the Dodgers last Saturday — 1 hit, 6 strikeouts, 96 pitches — but that was only his 2nd win in his last 11 starts. 1 gem doesn't fix a 5.30 ERA, and he's been prone to short, rough outings for most of 2026.
The Nationals drop into Baltimore having lost 3 of 4 at home to Philadelphia, where the Phillies pulled off three straight ninth-inning rallies to steal the series. Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead 2-run homer in the ninth in the finale, then Derek Hill followed it with a 3-run shot. Washington's bullpen absorbed all of it. The Orioles, for their part, return home off a split road trip through L.A. and Anaheim — but they're coming back missing key players at 2 critical positions.
The Orioles' health situation is legitimately rough right now. Adley Rutschman landed on the 7-day concussion IL after getting hit by a thrown ball last week — he was eligible to come off Friday, but manager Craig Albernaz declined to commit to that happening before the game. Jackson Holliday has been out of the lineup 4 straight days with groin tightness, and the organization is being deliberately cautious, with Albernaz noting that a groin injury not treated carefully can sideline a player for months. That's 2 of the better young players in the AL East potentially watching from the dugout.
- Day-To-DayJarlin Susana RP — Susana threw from a mound this week for the first time since undergoing lat surgery last September, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTyler Stuart SP — no
- Day-To-DayTyler Baum DH — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.
- Day-To-DayTravis Sykora SP — Sykora will undergo a UCL reconstruction on his right elbow in two weeks, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
- 15-Day-ILJake Irvin SP — Irvin (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz SP — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILMax Kranick RP — Kranick (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, striking out two over 1.2 perfect innings.
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk RP — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJackson Holliday 2B — Holliday (groin) struck out in his lone at-bat during Wednesday's 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Angels.
- Day-To-DayJhonkensy Noel RF — Noel was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Norfolk on Monday with left wrist inflammation, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- Day-To-DayLevi Wells P — Wells underwent successful core-muscle surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRichard Guasch SP — no
- Day-To-DayWill Robertson LF — The Orioles reassigned Robertson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
- 7-Day ILAdley Rutschman C — The Orioles placed Rutschman on the 7-day injured list Saturday after he was diagnosed with a concussion, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDylan Beavers RF — Beavers (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Chesapeake on Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILCade Povich SP — Povich (elbow) struck out three and allowed one hit and no walks over 3.1 scoreless innings Sunday in a rehab start with Double-A Chesapeake.
Alvarez has been 1 of Washington's quieter success stories this season, bouncing between the rotation and bullpen with legitimate control. His last outing against Tampa Bay: 4 innings, 1 earned run, 6 strikeouts, 0 walks on 68 pitches. Against a lineup missing its catcher and possibly its second baseman, that kind of efficiency goes a long way. The Nationals are 41-41. The Orioles are 38-44. Neither club is going anywhere fast in the AL East, but on a Friday night in June, getting the better arm against a shorthanded lineup is as much of an edge as you can ask for.