Barstool Bush
Predictions

Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles

By Bush StaffUpdated 56d ago·2 min read
Washington NationalsWSH(41-42)
Baltimore OriolesBAL(39-44)
4—3
FINAL
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WSH
01001100014131
BAL
0100000200372

Griffin (8-2, 3.15 ERA) draws Brandon Young (6-2, 3.07 ERA) in game 2 of the Beltway Series at Camden Yards, with first pitch at 7:05 PM ET. On paper, this is one of the better starting pitcher matchups a late-June weekend series can offer — 2 guys pitching well above preseason expectations, both with real skin in the game tonight.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Nationals(41-42)
LLLLW
4
Orioles(39-44)
WLLWW
3
Best BetNationals +101
Pregame

The market has the Nationals near pick-em, which doesn't fully account for Griffin's current form. He's 8-2 with a 3.15 ERA and has allowed exactly 1 run in each of his last 4 starts — that's not a slump masking underlying weakness, that's a pitcher in a groove. Getting Washington at a slight plus price against a Baltimore team that's 5 games under .500 and missing key pieces throughout the lineup is a spot worth taking.

Griffin has been Washington's most reliable arm all season — a crafty lefty back from Japan who works through a 7-pitch mix rather than big velocity. June has been his best stretch: he's allowed exactly 1 run in each of his 4 starts this month, including a 7.1-inning, 9-strikeout, zero-walk gem against the Phillies on June 22 — the same Phillies who then proceeded to torch the Nationals' bullpen 3 nights in a row and make baseball history doing it. Young's breakout has been the bigger surprise nationally. He posted a 6.24 ERA in his 2025 rookie season but completely revamped his splitter — choking up on his grip, shedding roughly 5 mph off the pitch's velocity and gaining about 3 inches of extra drop — and the adjustment has turned a problem pitch into his best weapon. Baltimore is 9-1 in his 10 starts this year.

Washington Nationals
Foster Griffin
(10-2)·2.77 ERA
Jun 22 vs Phillies
W
7.1IP
1ER
9K
0BB
105P
06/27 Lineup
Baltimore Orioles
Brandon Young
(7-2)·3.42 ERA
Jun 21 @ Dodgers
W
5.0IP
1ER
5K
2BB
95P
06/27 Lineup
Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(41-42)
Jun 26L@ Orioles1-3
Jun 25Lvs Phillies5-10
Jun 24Lvs Phillies4-5
Jun 23Lvs Phillies9-14
Jun 22Wvs Phillies4-1
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
(39-44)
Jun 26Wvs Nationals3-1
Jun 24L@ Angels6-7
Jun 24L@ Angels1-5
Jun 23W@ Angels6-1
Jun 21W@ Dodgers12-1

Washington's current 4-game slide isn't just bad — it's the kind that gets in your head. The Phillies hit go-ahead home runs in the 9th inning in 3 consecutive games at Nationals Park, a feat that had never happened in the history of Major League Baseball. Bryson Stott on Tuesday, Derek Hill's pinch-hit shot on Wednesday, and Bryce Harper on Thursday — each one worse than the last. The Nationals arrived in Baltimore already bruised and managed just 1 run in game 1 Friday. At 41-42, they haven't collapsed, but being a feel-good surprise team only lasts as long as you're actually winning.

Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
(10)
  • 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.06/14
  • Day-To-DayTyler Stuart (SP) — no05/25
  • Day-To-DayTyler Baum (DH) — Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.05/08
  • 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.05/08
  • 15-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
  • 60-Day-ILTrevor Williams (SP) — Williams (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Sunday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.06/26
  • 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
  • 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.06/22
  • 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.06/11
  • 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
(15)
  • 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.06/08
  • Day-To-DayLevi Wells (P) — Wells underwent successful core-muscle surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/28
  • Day-To-DayRichard Guasch (SP) — no05/08
  • Day-To-DayWill Robertson (LF) — The Orioles reassigned Robertson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.05/08
  • 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.06/21
  • 10-Day-ILDylan Beavers (RF) — Beavers (oblique) has gone just 1-for-20 (.050) with a run scored and five walks over his first six games during his minor-league rehab assignment.06/27
  • 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.06/22
  • 15-Day-ILChris Bassitt (SP) — Bassitt (back) received a facet injection to his lower back Friday, and he's set to begin his throwing progression, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/16
  • 60-Day-ILFelix Bautista (RP) — Bautista (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
  • 60-Day-ILDean Kremer (SP) — Kremer (quadriceps) struck out five and allowed one earned run on two hits and and two walks in 3.2 innings during his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk.06/22
  • 60-Day-ILYaramil Hiraldo (RP) — Hiraldo (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.06/16
  • 60-Day-ILRyan Mountcastle (1B) — Mountcastle (foot) did some running Saturday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.06/13
  • 60-Day-ILColin Selby (RP) — Selby was recently evaluated by Dr. Chris Looze in Baltimore due to ongoing symptoms with his injured right shoulder, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/19
  • 60-Day-ILJordan Westburg (3B) — Westburg (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.05/15
  • 60-Day-ILZach Eflin (SP) — Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08

Baltimore's situation isn't exactly comfortable either. Adley Rutschman, the face of the franchise, is on the 7-day concussion IL after taking an errant throw to the unprotected side of his head during a play in Seattle — he was eligible to come back when this series started, but his availability remains in flux. Jordan Westburg is done for the year after Tommy John surgery in May. Zach Eflin never made it past his first start before needing the same procedure. Chris Bassitt (back) is on the IL, Dean Kremer (quad) is still in the minors rehabbing. The Orioles are at 39-44 and leaning hard on Young every 5 days to keep them relevant — and he's delivered. But the depth math doesn't lie.

Tonight comes down to how long these 2 starters can keep the game clean. Griffin walked nobody in his last outing and Young has been consistently logging 6-plus innings in his recent run. Whichever team gets into the other's bullpen first — these are both shaky back ends — probably wins. Washington needs Griffin to give them 7 innings and a reminder that this team is still capable of stringing together a win when it matters.

Sources

MLBWashington NationalsBaltimore OriolesPolymarketKalshiFoster GriffinBrandon Young