Nationals/Orioles series a case of great expectations unfulfilled

Eddie Matz, ESPN Senior WriterSep 22, 2015, 11:12 PM
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WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals begin a three-game set Tuesday with their beltway buddies, the Baltimore Orioles. Prior to the season, the meeting had all the makings of a potential World Series preview. But that’s not how things have played out.

The Orioles are three games under .500 and on the verge of mathematical elimination in the AL East. Technically, the wild card is still a possibility, but with three teams and six games standing between them and the Astros (current owners of the second AL wild card spot), it would take a miracle. Multiple miracles, really.

As for the Nationals, with the Cubs and Pirates continuing their stranglehold on the two NL wild card berths, the only way they’ll make the playoffs is by winning the NL East. While that’s not Mission: Impossible, it is Mission: Highly Unlikely. Entering Tuesday, Matt Williams’ team trails the New York Mets by six and a half games. In order for the season-ending Nats/Mets series to matter, Washington needs to gain 3.5 games over its next 10 contests.

With that in mind, a couple Nationals notes heading into Tuesday’s game.

RAINOUT RUFFLES ROTATION: Yesterday’s rainout has thrown a wrench in the Nationals’ rotation. According to manager Matt Williams, Tanner Roark, who was originally scheduled to take the mound tonight, is now slated to pitch in Thursday’s makeup game. Matt Williams said that Max Scherzer will remain the starter for Wednesday so that he can stay on his regular schedule. Gio Gonzalez, who was supposed to pitch the series opener against the Orioles, goes tonight.

If you do the math, that means that in the season-ending series against the New York Mets -- which may or may not end up mattering -- Washington’s rotation would line up with Gonzalez, Scherzer, and Roark. That said, it’s certainly possible that Jordan Zimmermann, who will follow Roark in the rotation this Friday, could pitch on short rest in the season finale if needed.

ESPINOSA SIDELINED: Williams said that according to MRI results, infielder Danny Espinosa, who’s been out with what had been described as a strained hamstring, actually has a tear. Over the past week, Espinosa has only played in one game, pinch-hitting last Thursday against Miami. “We’ll have to see how he reacts,” said Williams when asked if Espinosa -- who’s played primarily second base but has also logged time at third base, shortstop, and left field -- would be able to play again this season. In Espinosa’s absence, rookie Trea Turner has appeared in three games at second base.

Here are the complete lineups for tonight’s series opener between the O’s and Nats:

ORIOLES

Nolan Reimold, LF

Manny Machado, 3B

Chris Davis, 1B

Steve Pearce, RF

Jonathan Schoop, 2B

Caleb Joseph, C

J.J. Hardy, SS

Junior Lake, CF

Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP

NATIONALS