Opposite dugout: Orioles using new tricks to produce similar results

Manager: Buck Showalter (8th season)

Record: 20-10

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: 3B Manny Machado (.237 average with 8 HR, 21 RBIs); 2B Jonathan Schoop (.296 average with 5 HR, 17 RBIs); CF Adam Jones (.268 average with 33 hits); RHP Dylan Bundy (5-1, 2.17 ERA); LHP Wade Miley (1-1, 2.27 ERA).

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-1 in 2016)

Pitching probables:

May 8: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
May 9: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Ubaldo Jiménez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
May 10: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN
May 11: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 7:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Orioles:

As it has over the past few seasons, the rivalry between the Orioles and Nationals will feature two teams atop or near the top of their respective divisions. The Nationals, of course, boast the best record in the National League at 21-10, while the Orioles are just a 1/2-game behind that mark at 20-10.

That current status shouldn't be a surprise in Washington, where several experts pegged the Nationals as one of the leading contenders to win the World Series. But just 45 minutes north, it's been another season of surprise for the Orioles, at least to everyone except, well, the Orioles.

Similar to seemingly every other spring, the Orioles were picked to finish in the bottom half of the American League East. Yet with one of the most lethal lineups in the game and a pitching staff that has delivered favorable results thus far, the Birds are churning out wins through the first month of the season.

The offense doesn't come as much of a surprise to anyone, as the Orioles have been one of the top power-hitting teams in recent memory. Yet so far in 2017, the power source from the O's hasn't hit full capacity. Baltimore sits 16th in the league with a .247 team average and, after finishing in the top 5 in home runs each of the last six seasons, ranks 13th in the majors with 36 home runs. Their home run power has come from third baseman Manny Machado. Following a slow start to the season, Machado has a team-leading eight home runs and 20 RBIs. His teammate and good friend Jonathan Schoop isn't too far behind in either category, as the second baseman has five home runs to go along with 17 RBIs and an impressive .296 average. One of the key points in the offseason for the Orioles was improving their on-base percentage. To do that, they brought in outfielder Seth Smith, who so far has worked out nicely. His .394 on-base percentage leads the team's everyday players, and the Nationals will likely see Smith against their right-handers.

Where the Orioles have really surprised is in the starting rotation. Right-hander Dylan Bundy, who starts Thursday's series finale in Washington, is 5-1 on the year and boasts a stingy 2.17 ERA. That mark ranks seventh in the American League and comes thanks in large part to Bundy's ability to toss quality starts in all seven of his outings so far. And while Bundy's ERA ranks seventh, his teammate Wade Miley's 2.27 ERA is just two spots back in the junior circuit. The left-hander has walked more than a few batters in his six starts (19), but has kept the damage to a minimum and kept righties hitting just .218 and lefties at .167. Miley will start Wednesday's opener in D.C. opposite right-hander Stephen Strasburg. As for the two Orioles starters for the games in Baltimore, the Birds are hoping both Kevin Gausman and Ubaldo Jiménez can get back on track after disappointing starts to the season. Gausman is just 1-3 and carries a 7.55 ERA. His last start was cut short in Boston when he was ejected for hitting Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts in the second inning, but he'll have his hands full with a balanced Nationals lineup that has scored a league-high 194 runs. Jiménez, meanwhile, is simply aiming for some consistency. After lasting just 3 1/3 innings in each of his last two starts, Jiménez tossed three scoreless innings of relief in the Orioles' win over the Red Sox on May 3. He'll go up against ace Max Scherzer, who is off to another brilliant start atop the Nationals rotation.

The unit in flux for the Orioles at the moment is its bullpen. All-Star closer Zach Britton landed on the disabled list for the second time Saturday as he continues to battle a strained left forearm. Britton's recovery means more closer by committee for manager Buck Showalter, who has turned to relievers Brad Brach and Darren O'Day in Britton's absence. Left-hander Donnie Hart and right-hander Mychal Givens are both reliable options to eat up innings in case of trouble for the O's, and they've helped to keep Baltimore battling near the top of its division as we enter mid-May.