It is hard to keep your momentum going in baseball and stay riding a high when your team loses. And after an upbeat Friday and a 10-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles lost big on Saturday by 8-2 at Tropicana Field.

Now these teams meet one more time this weekend and this season, and the weekend series and season series will be determined by today’s result. That is big for the Orioles as head-to-head results will break standings ties at the end of the year.

And should they tie with Tampa Bay for any spot, including any of three wild card playoff berths, today’s game will be the decider after 18 games and nine wins for each side.

If the Orioles and Rays tied for the third wild card spot, for instance, the season series winner would advance while the other team would go home. So yeah, big game today.

Lefty DL Hall had a poor outing in his big league debut, allowing five runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. After he gave up a run in the last of the first, he struck out the side in the second, getting swings and misses for strikeouts on fastballs at 96 and 97 mph. It was a dominant inning and looked like he was settling in. But, with two outs and a man on first in the Rays third, he allowed three straight run-scoring hits as Tampa Bay opened a 4-2 lead on its way to the win.

Jump back in time all of one month and make a mental list of the Nationals’ top prospects.

You’d start with Cade Cavalli, include Brady House and then try to come up with the names of other kids who may or may not develop into major leaguers some day in the short or long term.

Now consider what that list looks like in the wake of a dramatic (and, yes, controversial) overhaul of the organization that culminated with last week’s trade of Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres.

Cavalli and House remain on the list, but not in the top two spots. Those now belong to the likes of C.J. Abrams and Robert Hassell III, two of the six players acquired from San Diego in the blockbuster deal. Right behind them are Elijah Green and Cristhian Vaquero, teenage sensations who were the organization’s top amateur draft and international signing additions of 2022. Also include James Wood and Jarlin Susana, two more younger prospects who came over in the trade with the Padres. And then don’t forget to keep Cavalli and House, the 2020 and 2021 first-round picks, in the mix as well.

What you now see is a farm system that no longer is dependent on the rise of one or two blue-chip prospects, but has enough depth to account for the inevitable injuries and/or struggles that are bound to occur when trying to turn players right out of high school and college into big league stars.

Lottery’s contestants clean up with $107,000 in winnings!

The Orioles have been hot as of late, capping a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 6-3 win in Arlington on Aug. 3. And as the temperatures have headed up in the dog days of summer, so have the Birds’ bats.

Anthony Santander leads the team with 19 home runs this season. Other home run leaders Ryan Mountcastle with 14 and Austin Hays with 12 have formed the heart of an Orioles lineup that has helped the team accumulate 25 home runs in July.

This is a great news for fans that have been taking part in the Maryland Lottery’s Home Run Riches Bases Loaded FAST PLAY Second-chance promotion. With a total of 109 home runs to date in 2022, the Lottery has awarded $107,000 to Contestants of the Game selected in this year’s promotion.

There is still time for you to be selected for an upcoming game. The Lottery will select this year’s final Contestants of the Game in the promotion’s final drawing on Aug. 30.  To enter, submit any winning or non-winning FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Bases Loaded ticket purchased between March 7 and August 29 into you MY Lottery Rewards account for a chance to win. Not yet a member of My Lottery Rewards? Click here to start your free account today!

The $5 FAST PLAY Home Run Riches Bases Loaded game was introduced to coincide with the 2022 Oriole’s baseball season. The ticket has prizes from $5 to $5,000 and a progressive jackpot that starts at $40,000 and continues to grow with each ticket sold until someone buys a jackpot-winner!

The Washington Nationals are back in D.C. for the first time since the All-Star break, opening a six-game homestand with three games against the St. Louis Cardinals followed by a three-game series against the divisional rival New York Mets. Single-game tickets for all Nationals home games are on sale now starting at just $9. Fans interested in purchasing tickets should visit nationals.com/Tickets.

The season’s eighth homestand is capped by the annual DC Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and also features Baby Shark™ Day; Cat-urday; a Harris Teeter Food Drive; three University Days; City Connect uniforms; Value Day; U.S. Coast Guard Day; Signature Sunday; Kids Run the Bases; and more. Additionally, the popular Kids Eat Free program has been extended through Thursday, Sept. 1. For additional details, please reference the ‘Kids Eat Free’ section at the bottom of the release.

As a reminder, if you would like to cover any events at Nationals Park, please contact Valerie Todryk Krebs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Devon Bridges at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for credentialing information in advance of the event.

FRIDAY, JULY 29 vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (7:05 PM)

Nationals Draft Pick Elijah Green Visits Nationals Ballpark

Not every day at the ballpark is eventful, and not every day is created equal. Yesterday, for instance. It was a special day to be at Camden Yards, especially in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Needing a win to go over .500, take three of four from the Tampa Bay Rays and go 5-5 in a 10-game stretch versus the Yankees and Rays, the Orioles got one. A 3-0 shutout over the Rays to get to 50-49. Game No. 100 comes tonight in Cincinnati and the Orioles will be, at worst, a .500 team contending for a playoff spot.

But when Trey Mancini lifted a fly ball to right field with Austin Hays on second with one out in the O's eighth, it looked like what could be his last at-bat at home as an Oriole would go down F9 in the scorebook. But right fielder Josh Lowe lost the ball in the sun, it hit him in the face and Mancini circled the bases, beating the relay home for a thrilling two-run, inside-the-park homer.

Just when the O’s needed a big hit, they got one. From Mancini. On Mo Gaba Day. On the anniversary of the day Mancini lost his dear friend two years ago. On the day he caught the ceremonial first pitch from Mo’s mom, Sonsy, on Mo Gaba Day at the ballpark.

It was an amazing Mo-ment.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves: 

• Recalled INF Terrin Vavra from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear 77 and his first appearance will be his Major League debut
• Placed INF Jonathan Araúz on the 10-day Injured List with a right digit avulsion fracture

The Orioles have signed INF Max Wagner (Rd. 2, No. 42 overall) from the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. The Orioles have now signed three selections from the 2022 Draft.

The All-Star break has come and gone. The first half of the season is no more. Everybody’s enjoying one more day of relaxation before regathering Friday and commencing the second half.

For the Nationals, this is going to be a second half of change and promise, and perhaps some heartbreak as well. A lot could happen in these next few weeks leading up to the Aug. 2 trade deadline, after which the roster may look even less like the one that was trying to win championships not that long ago.

There will be no shortage of storylines to monitor the rest of the way. Here are five particularly important ones …

1. Is this really it for Soto in D.C.?
There was zero reason to even broach this subject one week ago. Of course Juan Soto would be finishing out the season with the Nationals, perhaps putting forth another monster second half and making an MVP case for himself, no matter the team’s record. That all changed Saturday with The Athletic’s report that Soto had turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension with the Nats, who now were going to explore the possibility of trading him.

It’s a bombshell development, one that could fundamentally change the way the rest of this season plays out for the Nationals. That doesn’t mean general manager Mike Rizzo is definitely going to trade Soto by Aug. 2. Given how complicated such a trade would be, there’s probably a good chance he doesn’t do it yet and re-explores the market over the winter (when the franchise may have some more stability on the ownership front, by the way).

The Washington Nationals selected collegiate left-handed pitcher Jake Bennett out of the University of Oklahoma with their second round pick (No. 45) in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft on Sunday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline and Director of Scouting Operations Eddie Longosz made the joint announcement.

Bennett, 21, went 10-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) during his redshirt sophomore season at Oklahoma in 2022. He struck out 133 batters and walked just 22 in 117.0 innings pitched. He received second-team All-America honors from Baseball America and D1Baseball.com and third-team honors from Perfect Game. He was named First-Team All-Big 12 Conference and to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team.

The 6-foot-6, 234-pound left-hander is ranked by Baseball America as the No. 41 prospect and by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 68 prospect in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft.

A high school and college teammate of current Nationals prospect Cade Cavalli, Bennett was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2020. He went 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/19.0 IP) with 19 strikeouts and three walks in three starts before the cancellation of the season. In 2021, Bennet struck out 60 batters in 55.1 innings while going 4-3 with a 6.34 ERA in 16 games (13 starts).

Bennett is a native of Bixby, Okla., and graduated from Bixby High School. He was selected by the Nationals in the 39^th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft but chose to attend the University of Oklahoma. As a senior, he was rated as the top-ranked left-handed pitcher in the state of Oklahoma by Perfect Game. He garnered all-state honors in 2019 and was a three-time Tulsa World All-World honorable mention.

The Washington Nationals return home to D.C. for a six-game homestand, opening with a quick two-game set against the Seattle Mariners followed by a four-game series against the divisional rival Atlanta Braves. Single-game tickets for all Nationals home games are on sale now starting at just $9. Fans interested in purchasing tickets should visit nationals.com/Tickets. 

The season’s seventh homestand features a Value Day; U.S. Marine Corp Day; Camp Day; Intern Night; three University Days; STAR WARS™ Day; a Juan “Solo” bobblehead giveaway; City Connect uniforms; Summer Reading Sunday; Signature Sunday; Kids Run the Bases; and more. 

As a reminder, if you would like to cover any events at Nationals Park, please contact Valerie Todryk Krebs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Devon Bridges at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for credentialing information in advance of the event.

TUESDAY, JULY 12 vs. SEATTLE MARINERS (7:05 PM)

Value Days

The Orioles selected the contract of reliever Rico Garcia this morning and optioned left-hander Bruce Zimmermann to Triple-A Norfolk.

Zimmermann threw a scoreless relief inning yesterday.

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Garcia on the 40-man roster.

Also, reliever Marcos Diplán cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Norfolk.

Garcia, who’s wearing No. 63, has made two appearances with the Orioles as a replacement player in Toronto and allowed one run in three innings.

Nolan Reimold's sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field in the third inning brought home Ty Wigginton with the tying run. Wigginton doubled and took third on Jimmy Rollin's error. Nick Markakis has the Orioles' other hit, a double in the first inning. The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Millwood wiggled off the hook. Millwood gave up a leadoff single to Rollins on a fly ball that dropped near the line. Luke Scott ran a long way and still didn't get close to it. Placido Polanco fouled out to catcher Matt Wieters, who made a nice catch in front of the folding chairs that line part of the padded fence beside the dugout. Chase Utley struck out for the second time, the bat flying out of his hands and sailing over Garrett Atkins' head. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth walked to load the bases, but Raul Ibanez bounced to second. Millwood threw 28 pitches, 16 strikes. He's up to 57 pitches. This is Millwood's longest official outing - we're not counting his five innings in an intrasquad game - and it's the first time an opponent hasn't batted around against him. Hope I didn't jinx him. Part 2: Kevin Millwood struck out two batters and walked pitcher Jamie Moyer in a scoreless fourth. Dewayne Wise and Paul Hoover went down swinging. Millwood threw 20 pitches, 13 for strikes. He's thrown 77 pitches, 47 strikes, through four innings. Cody "Give me back my son!" Ransom has replaced Rollins at shortstop.

Sunsets don't get much better than this one over @GrandTetonNPS. #nature #sunset pic.twitter.com/YuKy2rcjyU

— US Department of the Interior (@Interior) May 5, 2014

JULY 4 vs. TEX at 1:05 P.M.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Orioles will join Major League Baseball in celebrating Independence Day on Monday, July 4. As part of the celebration, all uniformed personnel will wear Independence Day-themed caps and socks. The specialty game-worn, autographed caps will be available for purchase at Orioles.com/ Auctions from Monday, July 11 at 5:00 p.m. through Sunday, July 17 at 10:00 p.m. to benefit The Orioles Charitable Foundation.

UMPS CARE CHARITIES AND WOUNDED WARRIOR UMPIRE ACADEMY

The Orioles will host members from UMPS CARE CHARITIES, the official philanthropy of the MLB Umpires, and the WOUNDED WARRIOR UMPIRE ACADEMY. UMPS CARE and the Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy partnered to train COLLINS HALSTEAD, who spent 22 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a Gunnery Sergeant, and EUGENE DEIMLER, who served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Kosovo, to be umpires in the Baltimore community. 

When this Orioles series in Chicago began, the team had not posted a four-game win streak since the end of the 2020 season. Today, the O's seek a five-game streak and a four-game sweep on the road against the White Sox – which would be their first four-game sweep at Chicago since 1995.

Baltimore's pitching has led the way to 4-0, 4-1 and 6-2 wins in this series. As a staff, the team's pitchers have allowed just the three runs on 16 hits with seven walks and 25 strikeouts.

The O’s pitchers have allowed two runs or less in seven of the last nine games, pitching to an ERA of 1.73 in that span. In the last four games, the O’s staff has allowed two total earned runs for an ERA of 0.55.

Over the last six games, O’s starting pitchers have an ERA of 0.98. The bullpen, which has been strong almost all year, has now gone 11 straight games allowing one earned run or less with an ERA of 1.29 in that span.

Couple that with some solid defense and an offense that has produced six runs or more 11 times in 22 games, you can see why the club has moved to 34-39 and is now five games from .500.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Reinstated LHP Keegan Akin from the Restricted List.
• Reinstated OF Anthony Santander from the Restricted List.
• Returned Substitute Player RHP Rico Garcia to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
• Returned Substitute Player OF Kyle Stowers to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott from Triple-A Rochester and optioned right-handed pitcher Andres Machado to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Abbott, 26, joins the Nationals for the first time this season. He struck out 24 batters in 19.0 innings between Triple-A Iowa in Chicago’s (NL) system and Triple-A Rochester. He went 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA in eight games (four starts) between the two stops.

Abbott was claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on May 4. He was acquired by the Giants from the Chicago Cubs on April 21 in exchange for cash considerations.

Selected in the second round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, Abbott made his Major League debut on June 5, 2021. He went on to appear in seven games (one start) for the Cubs in 2021, posting a 6.75 ERA across 17.1 innings pitched. Abbott is 21-23 with a 3.82 ERA and 10.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 80 career Minor League games (76 starts).

Machado, 29, has posted a 5.48 ERA in 17 games out of Washington’s bullpen.

JUNE 17

vs. TB AT 6:05 P.M.

BIRDLAND SUMMER MUSIC SERIES, PRESENTED BY MILLER LITE

Multi-platinum selling artist FLO RIDA will kick off the Birdland Summer Music Series,

presented by Miller Lite, with a postgame concert on Friday. The concert is the first

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• INF Jahmai Jones has cleared unconditional release waivers and been released.