Game 46: Orioles at Nats

Cade Cavalli and Co. will once again try to get to the .500 mark, hoping to feed off the energy of a projected big crowd at Nationals Park

It was a fun Friday night at Nationals Park, with a sellout crowd celebrating Hot Dog Night and then the home team holding on for a 3-2 win. And the environment should be great again this afternoon for the second game of the series, with an Alex Ovechkin bobblehead giveaway expected to draw another big crowd here.

The Nationals once again are in a position to try to get to the .500 mark. By now you already know the story: They’ve gone 0-15 over the last two calendar years when taking the field one game under .500. Is there reason to believe the outcome today will be any different?

If Cade Cavalli can be the best version of himself, they should have a good shot at it. The right-hander was solid last time out in Miami, bouncing back from a really rough start prior to that. He’s never faced the Orioles before, and the only member of Baltimore’s lineup who has ever even seen him in person is Pete Alonso, so perhaps Cavalli can take advantage of the unfamiliarity.

Veteran Chris Bassitt starts for the Orioles. The right-hander comes into this one with a 5.21 ERA, though he has been good in two of his last three starts, giving up just one run over at least six innings to both the Astros and Athletics. He’s really struggled against left-handed hitters (.349/.441/.518), so with that in mind, Blake Butera has overloaded his lineup with lefties. That includes José Tena as the surprise No. 3 hitter and (for the first time this season) starting third baseman. Look for Brady House to replace him as soon as Bassitt departs the game.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV/FS1 (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees, wind 13 mph left to right

ORIOLES
SS Gunnar Henderson
LF Taylor Ward
C Adley Rutschman
1B Pete Alonso
DH Samuel Basallo
RF Tyler O’Neill
CF Leody Taveras
3B Coby Mayo
2B Jeremiah Jackson

RHP Chris Bassitt

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
3B José Tena
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Jorbit Vivas
CF Jacob Young

RHP Cade Cavalli