WASHINGTON–What’s happening? The Orioles concluded their exhibition schedule by defeating the Washington Nationals, 2-0, in the second game in two days between the teams.
Shane Baz, who’ll start on Sunday in the third game of the regular season against the Minnesota Twins, raced through five scoreless innings while Chris Bassitt followed with two spotless innings in the Orioles’ shutout before 9,389 at Nationals Park on Monday.
“I think it was a great spring,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “The work, the attention to detail, the intensity, the competitiveness. It was fun. The boys were loose, so it’s tough to blend that all together, and they did it. It speaks to the players in that clubhouse. They jelled well. They pushed each other, and they had fun with each other.”
The Orioles used their Sunday game to show off their new scoreboard, which, by design, was not fully functional, and their improved sound system.
There weren’t any major improvements to Nationals Park, which opened in 2008, and the Monday afternoon crowd on a chilly day had little to get excited about.
Infielder Thairo Estrada was granted his release. Catcher Maverick Handley and first baseman/outfielder Jhonkensy Noel were reassigned to minor league camp.
Estrada was 2-for-25 (.080) with an RBI. Handley was 1-for-11 (.091), and Noel hit .391 with an 1.158 OPS, two home runs and eight RBIs.
The Orioles have 39 players on their spring training roster, including five non-roster players and relievers, Félix Bautista and Colin Selby, who are on the 60-day injured list.
Infielder Luis Vázquez suffered a broken right thumb after he was hit by a pitch in Sunday’s game, Albernaz said after the game.
Albernaz did not have any news on left-handed reliever Keegan Akin or outfielder Heston Kjerstad, both of whom had MRIs on Monday. He also didn’t have news on outfielder Dylan Beavers, who was scratched from Friday night’s game with right knee discomfort.
Orioles minor league left-hander Joseph Dzierwa, who struck out eight batters in three innings against the Red Sox, was named to the All-Spring Breakout Team.
Four early-season Oriole games will be show on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. They’re March 31st (Rangers-Orioles), April 22 (Orioles-Royals), May 1st (Orioles-Yankees), and May 13th (Yankees-Orioles) The games will be shown out of the Baltimore market.
What’s happened? Baz threw 73 pitches, allowing three hits in five innings, striking out five without walking a batter. Bassitt struck out one in two innings, throwing 35 pitches. Yennier Cano threw a perfect eighth, striking out one, and Dietrich Enns finished the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.
“Baz looked great, sharp, crisp,” Albernaz said. “Bassitt got his two innings in. He looked great. It was cool to see Bassitt come in in the middle of he game and still do everything the same. Cano looked great, and that’s the Dietrich we all know. It was good to see him go out there and throw strikes and be competitive.”
Bassitt is confident in the starting rotation.
“I’m excited to get in the games and work with these guys,” Bassitt said. “
Bassitt forgot to bring his glove and had to borrow one from minor leaguer Ryan Long. After his outing, he ran back to the bullpen to return Long’s glove.
He’s been with three postseason clubs with three different franchises — Oakland (2020), New York Mets (2022) and Toronto Blue Jays (2025).
“The talent in the room is there,” Bassitt said. “Now, it’s just how much belief does the team actually have in itself. We’ll find out. Really, really good teams are great on paper, but then all of a sudden, they get punched in the mouth, and then they freak out.
“I want us to fall in love with how we play the game. I want us to enjoy the process of how we play each game. Wins and losses are just the result of that.”
Outfielder Leody Taveras hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning.
“The best feeling, last day,” Taveras said. “That’s all we need going to the season.”
The Nationals used nine pitchers for an inning each, including former Orioles left-hander Cionel Pérez, who pitched a scoreless eighth.
What’s up with Weston Wilson? The 31-year-old utility player is a contender for one of the final roster spots.
“You’re always kind of antsy, trying to figure out where you’re going to be,” Wilson said. “I know this process is going to go down to the wire. I think there are a couple of guys still in the mix. Just going to continue to play hard and see what I can do.
“I think it’s out of control at this point. I think it’s always been out of my control. I’ve got to put up the numbers. Maybe I didn’t put up the numbers? You could hit .450 and hit six homers and it might not be enough.”
Wilson was hitless in one at-bat and ended spring training with a .233 average and .828 OPS.
What’s what? Nationals manager Blake Butera, who at 33 is the youngest major league manager in more than 50 years, played under Albernaz in the Tampa Bay organization and the two are close friends.
“It doesn’t get better than Blake as a human being in this game,” Albernaz said. “We have a great relationship. It goes back a long ways … He gets the best out of everyone. He’s very disarming. He’s had a ton of experience, even though his age doesn’t reflect that.”
What’s the word? “When they were in the games, they brought it. Whether it was for a short stint or a longer stint, they busted their butts every day. That’s all you can ask for someone in my position.”–Albernaz on the Orioles’ spring training effort.
What’s the number? 9/0. Oriole pitchers concluded spring training by striking out nine players without walking any.
What’s the record? 13-13-3. The Orioles will play the Minnesota Twins on Thursday at 3:05 p.m. at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers will be the Opening Day starter, and Joey Ryan will start for the Twins.
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