The season series of the Battle of the Beltways is split so far, with two wins each for the Orioles and Nationals. The O’s struck the most recent blow with their 3-1 victory in last night’s series opener at Camden Yards. Now they’ll try to make it two in a row as they turn to Brandon Young, their most reliable starter.
Read that phrase again: “Brandon Young, their most reliable starter.” Entering the 2026 season, I don’t think any Orioles fans would’ve ever anticipated we’d be using those words. And
yet, the second-year right-hander has been one of the most remarkable stories of an otherwise tough O’s season. Young, who was something like ninth on the rotation depth chart when the season began, is now 6-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 12 impressive starts. The Orioles have a 10-2 record when he pitches. He’s a stopper, folks.
One of Young’s few poor outings this year, though, came against these Nationals in Washington on May 17. In that game, he allowed two runs and eight baserunners in 3.2 innings even after being staked to a five-run lead, and the bullpen had to bail him out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. He gave up a dinger to a fellow Young, Jacob Young, who is not in the lineup tonight.
The O’s are facing lefty Foster Griffin, a former first round pick who couldn’t stick in the majors initially but has made an impressive return to MLB after three years in Japan. The southpaw has a 3.15 ERA in 16 starts this season. Jackson Holliday, who was back in the lineup last night after missing time with a groin strain, returns to the bench tonight. And third catcher Chadwick Tromp, who played six games for the Orioles last season, makes his first appearance for the Birds after they reacquired him last month. He starts in place of Samuel Basallo against the southpaw.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward
SS Gunnar Henderson
1B Pete Alonso
DH Coby Mayo
RF Tyler O’Neill
3B Blaze Alexander
CF Leody Taveras
2B Jeremiah Jackson
C Chadwick Tromp
RHP Brandon Young
Nationals lineup:
LF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
DH José Tena
SS CJ Abrams
CF Dylan Crews
LF Daylen Lile
3B Jorbit Vivas
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Drew Millas
LHP Foster Griffin
