Orioles’ Hyde gets ready for first matchup with Nationals’ Martinez

BALTIMORE—The Orioles and the Washington Nationals are what passes for a rivalry in the Mid-Atlantic. Last year, the Orioles lost five of six to the Nationals.

In 2019, they’ll play four games with the teams meeting at Nationals Park on August 27 and 28.

Erick Fedde will start for the Nationals against Aaron Brooks on Wednesday. Stephen Strasburg, who has never pitched in Baltimore, will start at Atlanta on Thursday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and his Nationals counterpart, Dave Martinez, coached together with the Chicago Cubs under Joe Maddon from 2015-17 before Martinez took the job in Washington.

“Me and Dave are very close friends,” Hyde said. “I wish him all the success in the world. I hope we beat them the next couple of games.”

Hyde is also friendly with Nationals bullpen coach Henry Blanco, with whom he also coached in Chicago, and assistant hitting coach Joe Dillon, a teammate in summer ball during high school.

“This will be a little bit different managing against Davey on the other side,” Hyde said.

Mancini wins ‘Heart and Hustle’ award: Trey Mancini won the Orioles’ “Heart and Hustle” award presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.

The award is presented to “active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game,” the MLBPAA said.

“You always want to be the same guy, no matter what’s going on,” Mancini said. “I just want to look in the mirror every night after the game and say I gave it my all.”

On November 7, the final winner will be named at a dinner in New York.

Aberdeen in the house: With the short-season Aberdeen IronBirds getting a day off, Kyle Stowers, who was chosen by the Orioles in the competitive balance round, was among a few players who attended Tuesday’s game.

The 21-year-old outfielder, who’s one of three players drafted by the Orioles from Stanford, is off to a strong start in his first professional season.

Stowers is batting .296 with six RBIs in 16 games with Aberdeen.

Growing up in Southern California, Stowers is adjusting to playing on the East Coast.

“It’s humid. It’s hot,” Stowers said. “I think experiences that are new are healthy and a change of pace. I have a lot to learn.”

He played against the first overall pick, Adley Rutschman, in college. Rutschman is expected to join Stowers in Aberdeen, perhaps as soon as next week.

“The most impressive thing about him is his plate discipline,” Stowers said.

Stowers is getting used to the bus rides of minor league life.

“So far, in the New York-Penn League, they’ve all been within six hours, so not as bad as anticipated thus far,” Stowers said. “But I’m sure we’ll get some longer ones.”