Nationals at Orioles
The Washington Nationals will try to avoid looking too far ahead when they wrap up a two-game interleague series at the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. The Nationals coasted to an 8-1 win in Tuesday's series opener to get within 6 1/2 games of the first-place Atlanta Braves - who host Washington for four games beginning Thursday - in the National League East.
Matt Adams and Juan Soto both homered and drove in a pair of runs for the Nationals on Tuesday as they improved to 18-5 over their last 23 games. Anthony Rendon also drove in two runs and is 9-for-22 with four doubles over the last six games for Washington. The Nationals got by in the series opener behind call-up Austin Voth, who tossed six solid innings, and will try to do so again Wednesday when they bring up Erick Fedde from the minors for the start. The Orioles managed only four hits Tuesday and will try to provide a bit more support for right-hander Aaron Brooks in the finale.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Erick Fedde (1-1, 3.79 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Aaron Brooks (2-3, 4.75)
Fedde made six starts earlier in the year and went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in that role. He allowed a total of 14 runs and 19 hits in 10 innings over his last two starts with Double-A Harrisburg. The Las Vegas native, who has never faced the Orioles, is 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in three career interleague outings.
Brooks was claimed off waivers from Oakland earlier this month and retired all eight men he faced Saturday against Tampa Bay. The 29-year-old was 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA in six starts with the Athletics earlier in the year. He will be facing the Nationals for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Nationals optioned C Spencer Kieboom to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday to make room for Voth.
2. Orioles 2B-3B Hanser Alberto provided his team's offense Tuesday with a solo homer, his second in the last three games.
3. Washington has won eight of the last nine meetings.