MLB Game Preview - Baltimore at Washington

Wed Aug 28, 2019 7:05 PM EDT

The Baltimore Orioles are finally getting something they've been longing for all season: good starting pitching.

Baltimore has received three straight effective starts, a big reason the Orioles have won three consecutive games. Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski will try and keep that string going in the finale of a brief two-game series against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

Wojciechowski (2-6, 4.67 ERA) has pitched well at times since joining the Baltimore rotation. He hasn't won in his past five starts although he hasn't thrown badly. His pitch count often runs high early, and that causes problems.

He is 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA in three games (one start) against the Nationals in his career. The start came July 16, when he allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings during an 8-1 loss.

John Means, Dylan Bundy and Aaron Brooks have given the Orioles the three solid starts. Brooks had endured problems since coming to Baltimore from Oakland, but he's now won two in a row.

He threw six shutout innings Tuesday in Baltimore's 2-0 victory over the Nationals, keeping the hot Washington offense quiet throughout. Brooks has given up one run over his past 11 innings, dating back to his last start against Kansas City.

Anthony Santander went 5-for-5 on Sunday against Tampa Bay, then knocked in one of the two runs in the win over Washington on Tuesday. Jonathan Villar, who has homered in five of the past eight games, drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

Hanser Alberto was back in the lineup after sustaining a head contusion and cervical strain and leaving the Sunday game. The Orioles had an off day Monday.

"I think he probably could have used a breather (Monday), so the off day worked out great," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said to MLB.com. "He was pretty sore, but he woke up, got checked out, was cleared to play. But I probably would have given him a day to relax."

Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.41 ERA) will start Wednesday for Washington. This will be his second start since coming back from the injured list after recovering from upper back and shoulder problems.

On Thursday, Scherzer went four innings and allowed one run in a no-decision at Pittsburgh. The Nationals are trying to build him back up as they'll need him down the stretch.

The right-hander is 6-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 career starts versus Baltimore.

The Nationals have won 12 of their last 15 games and are in the top wild-card spot in the National League. They also should be getting some needed help in the bullpen soon.

Closer Sean Doolittle and Roenis Elias, the latter acquired in a deal near the trading deadline, both have been on the injured list and could return this weekend.

Washington is hoping Doolittle pitches better than he did before he went on the IL due to knee tendinitis. In five games from Aug. 9-17, the left-hander allowed 10 runs in four innings and blew two saves.

"I kind of needed a mental break," Doolittle told reporters. "That two-week stretch there was really rough. All through that process, I was looking for answers. I was trying to find things and make adjustments, and none of them were working. When you're spinning your wheels like that, it's kind of like a really helpless feeling."

Also, Ryan Zimmerman, bothered by foot issues almost all year and limited to 33 games, is almost finished with his rehab work. He played two games with Double-A Harrisburg and five with Class-A Potomac, including a 1-for-4 outing Tuesday.

Washington put relief pitcher Hunter Strickland on the paternity list Tuesday as he went home to Georgia for the birth of his baby girl. Catcher Spencer Kieboom was called up to replace him.

--Field Level Media