It's been quite a start to the year for LHP Joseph Dzierwa, Orioles' highest-drafted pitcher of Mike Elias era (2025 second round). The 22-year-old was the star of Spring Breakout (8 K's in 3 scoreless innings). Then, Dzierwa had a 2.21 ERA in 8 starts for High-A Frederick.

LHP Joseph Dzierwa (Orioles' No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline) is being promoted to Double-A Chesapeake

Coby Mayo on Gunnar Henderson's 4-hit game: "Everyone knows the player he is, and I know he's hard on himself because he knows he’s one of the best in the game. That's why there's a whole season to let stuff play out. At the end of 162, you can go back and look at the numbers."

Orioles' Gunnar Henderson after 4-hit game amid slow start: "It was starting to get frustrating, I’m not going to lie, because you feel good and then it’s like, ‘All right, well the hits are supposed to come.’ But baseball’s just a funny game. You’ve just got to stick with it."

The Orioles scored 7 runs on 11 hits. They had 15 hard-hit batted balls (exit velocity of 95+ mph, per Statcast).

Orioles win 7-3 to deny the Nationals of a 3-game sweep this weekend at Nationals Park. Gunnar Henderson (season-high 4 hits), Coby Mayo and Colton Cowser all homered. O's (21-26) now head to Tampa, as they open a 4-game set vs. AL East-leading Rays on Monday night.

Nationals' Luis García Jr. hits a 1-out double in the bottom of the 9th inning. That's only the 2nd hit allowed by Orioles RHP Rico Garcia this season, and it was his 66th batter faced.

Gunnar Henderson's 4 hits also match his career high for Orioles. His previous 4-hit games: 7/6/23 at NYY 8/20/23 at OAK 7/19/24 at TEX 6/27/25 vs. TB

Gunnar Henderson has a season-high 4 hits after knocking a 1-out RBI single in the 9th inning. Orioles lead Nationals 7-3.

Here was the 1st-inning hit-by-pitch of Orioles prospect Ike Irish that prompted his removal from today's High-A Frederick game:

1B Ike Irish (Orioles' No. 2 prospect, MLB Pipeline's No. 93 overall) was removed from today's High-A Frederick game after being hit with a pitch on the right wrist.

This was the 1st time that Anthony Nunez has entered a game earlier than the 6th inning in his 20-game MLB career. The Orioles were aggressive here because they needed an out -- and Nunez got it for them, getting Luis García Jr. to strike out swinging on this changeup.

Trailing 6-2, Nationals have reloaded the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the 4th inning. That'll be it for Orioles starter Brandon Young, who threw 70 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. RHP Anthony Nunez coming into the game for O's.

Orioles' Colton Cowser was 0-for-24 with 14 strikeouts against breaking pitches this season before homering on a slider from Nationals RHP Miles Mikolas in the 4th inning today.

Colton Cowser's 113.3 mph exit velocity on this home run (per Statcast) was his highest on a batted ball this season for Orioles. It was tied for the 4th highest exit velo on a batted ball in his MLB career.

Orioles' hard-hit balls (95+ exit velocity per Statcast) by inning today: 1st: 3 2nd: 3 3rd: 1 4th: 3 Orioles' runs by inning today: 1st: 1 2nd: 2 3rd: 1 4th: 2

The Orioles' 3rd home run of the day comes from Colton Cowser, who goes deep for the 1st time this season. O's lead Nationals 6-1 in the 4th inning. 113.3 mph exit velocity, per Statcast.

OF Ryan Noda was removed from today's Triple-A Norfolk game with a right knee contusion following a collision with the outfield wall, per Orioles.

Jackson Holliday’s removal in the 5th inning of today's Triple-A Norfolk game today was part of his return-to-play progression for Orioles.

The Nationals keep a record of some of their longest home runs hit in Nationals Park history, most of which have landed in the 3rd deck in right field. Believe Gunnar Henderson's home run for Orioles today landed in Section 234, Row A, Seat 8.

Taylor Ward moved to 3rd base on Gunnar Henderson's 100.3 mph single and then scored on Pete Alonso's sac fly. Orioles lead Nationals 4-1 in the 3rd inning.

Taylor Ward walked to lead off the 3rd inning. His MLB-high 44th walk of the year. Most walks by an Orioles player through 1st 45 games played in a season: T-1. Randy Milligan -- 44 in 1990 T-1. Taylor Ward -- 44 in 2026

Nationals get a run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Jacob Young’s solo home run off Brandon Young cuts Orioles’ lead to 3-1. The Young-off-Young blast had an exit velocity of 103.4 mph per Statcast.

The Orioles put 3 more hard-hit balls (95+ mph exit velocity per Statcast) in play in the 2nd inning and it again led to some pretty good results. Samuel Basallo 100.3 mph single Coby Mayo 112.7 mph home run Jeremiah Jackson 105.2 mph groundout

Coby Mayo nearly homered yesterday, but the ball went just foul. This one easily stayed fair. Orioles lead Nationals 3-0 in the 2nd inning after Mayo's 5th home run of the season -- a 407-foot blast with an exit velocity of 112.7 mph, per Statcast.

All 3 balls the Orioles put in play during the top of the 1st inning were hard-hit balls (95+ mph exit velocity per Statcast). Taylor Ward 105.3 mph lineout Gunnar Henderson 106.7 mph home run Pete Alonso 97.3 mph flyout

This was Gunnar Henderson's 1st home run for the Orioles since April 26, ending his homer drought at 16 games. 397 feet per Statcast, but it was a no-doubter.

Gunnar Henderson with a monster home run here -- to the 3rd deck in right field at Nationals Park! His left-on-left blast off Richard Lovelady gives the Orioles an early 1-0 lead.

Orioles lineup for today’s finale vs. Nationals in Washington

Orioles have recalled RHP Cameron Foster from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned LHP Josh Walker. Fresh bullpen arm for today’s series finale in Washington.

Orioles' signing of OF Tommy Pham to a Minor League deal is now official

Tyler O'Neill on Orioles' efforts to improve offense: "Working, grinding and doing what we can to get back on track. I think it’s really only a matter of time. We all believe in ourselves, and a lot of skill in this locker room. Just got to take it to the next day."

Orioles lose 13-3 to Nationals. They'll try to avoid 3-game sweep tomorrow in Washington. O's didn't score for 6 innings. Plated 3 runs in top of 7th to cut it to 4-3. Then, the Nats scored 7 in the bottom of 7th to run away with it. O's fall to 20-26, matching low-water mark.

Brady House hits a 2-run home run off Josh Walker. Nationals lead Orioles 13-3 in the 8th inning.

Orioles LHP Keegan Akin has a 14.63 ERA in 9 games. 4/25 vs. BOS: 1 IP, 6 ER 7 outings from 4/30-5/13: 6.2 IP, 1 ER 5/16 at WSH: 0.1 IP, 6 ER

Jacob Young hits a 3-run home run off Andrew Kittredge. Nationals have scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning and now lead Orioles 11-3. (This was a 4-3 game at the 7th-inning stretch.)

Nationals have now scored 4 runs off Orioles LHP Keegan Akin in the bottom of the 7th inning after Keibert Ruiz hits a 2-run single with still only 1 out. Nats lead 8-3. (This was a 4-3 game after O's scored 3 runs in the top of the inning.)

Nationals get another one back on Daylen Lile's RBI fielder's choice grounder, pushing their lead to 6-3. Gunnar Henderson threw home to try to nab Brady House, and he nearly did. Call stood after replay review.

Nationals get 1 of the runs back in the bottom of the 7th inning. James Wood drew a leadoff walk, then scored on Brady House's pinch-hit RBI double off Keegan Akin 2 batters later. Orioles now trail 5-3.

Orioles have put 12 more hard-hit balls in play today (exit velo of 95+ mph per Statcast). 4 came during a 3-run 7th inning: Samuel Basallo's 109.2 mph solo home run Tyler O'Neill's 110.9 mph solo home run Jeremiah Jackson's 100.2 mph flyout Taylor Ward's 103.5 mph RBI single

Taylor Ward knocks a 2-out RBI single to left field, and the Orioles have cut the Nationals' lead to 4-3 in the 7th inning here at Nationals Park.

Coby Mayo definitely thought this one was gone (and it sure sounded like it off the bat). Quite a bat flip here on the near-homer.

Orioles' Coby Mayo just nearly tied the game in the 7th inning on a 111 mph, 406-foot drive to left field that just hooked foul. Call confirmed after a crew-chief review.

Tyler O'Neill has been taking good ABs of late, and it's felt like he's been close. O'Neill follows Samuel Basallo's home run with one of his own -- 110.9 mph exit velocity, per Statcast. First time this year Orioles have hit back-to-back homers. They cut Nats' lead to 4-2.

The Orioles will not be shut out for the 1st time today. Samuel Basallo leads off the 7th inning with his 6th home run of the season. O's cut Nationals lead to 4-1. 109.2 mph exit velocity (per Statcast) on this rocket off the 21-year-old's bat.

Final line for Orioles starter Chris Bassitt: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's. 82 pitches, 50 strikes. Most of the damage came on Keibert Ruiz's 3-run HR in 2nd. Nationals missed an opportunity for more runs with bases loaded, no outs in 5th. Bassitt has a 5.44 ERA in 9 outings.

The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 5th inning and came away with 0 runs, as Chris Bassitt wiggles his way out of the jam. But the Orioles' bats still need to get going, as they trail 4-0 heading to the 6th.

Chris Bassitt had never allowed a run in 22 career innings vs. the Nationals (21 before today and the 1st inning today). That changes in the 2nd inning. Keibert Ruiz hits a 3-run home run to right field, and the Nats lead the Orioles 3-0.

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Entering today, Orioles RHP Chris Bassitt had never allowed a run in 3 career starts vs. the Nationals. 4/9/22 for Mets at Nats Park: 6 IP, 0 R 8/3/22 for Mets at Nats Park: 7 IP, 0 R 8/30/23 for Blue Jays at Rogers Centre: 8 IP, 0 R