Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals Picks and Predictions May 17th 2025

Orioles Need to Turn Hits into Runs vs. Nationals

Orioles’ Offensive Frustrations Mount

Despite racking up 14 hits on Friday, the Baltimore Orioles couldn’t find the big ones that count, falling 4-3 to the visiting Washington Nationals. The loss extended Baltimore’s skid to four games, and once again, the team’s inability to convert with runners in scoring position proved costly.

The Orioles are now 7-for-33 (.212) in such situations during the losing streak, and they left 15 runners on base in Friday’s loss — including the bases loaded in four separate innings.

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“Kind of in disbelief, honestly,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.
“Just not many things went right.”

Washington Capitalizes on Mistakes

Meanwhile, the Nationals managed just five hits but made them count. James Wood tied the game in the eighth with a solo homer and drove in another with a single earlier in the game. A go-ahead run in the ninth came on a walk, an infield hit, and a Baltimore throwing error.

“They made it happen,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.
“They stayed in it. They got after it.”

Though Washington hasn’t exactly been red-hot, going just 2-8 in their last 10 games, they’ve now stolen the momentum in this interleague series. The Orioles, on the other hand, have dropped 10 of their last 12.

Laureano Breaks Out, But Team Still Searching

Left fielder Ramón Laureano was a bright spot, going 4-for-5 in his first four-hit game in nearly four years. Ryan Mountcastle extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but the rest of the lineup struggled to capitalize.

“I think we need to figure it out individually,” Laureano said.
“We need to look ourselves in the mirror individually and we need to come back stronger and actually perform.”

Adley Rutschman echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of unity in tough times.

Pitching Matchup: Irvin vs. Gibson

The Nationals will send Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.00 ERA) to the hill for Saturday’s contest. Irvin has been solid in recent outings, but home runs have been a problem — he’s allowed at least one in seven of his nine starts.

He did beat the Orioles last season, giving up two runs over six innings.

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Baltimore will counter with Kyle Gibson (0-2, 13.11 ERA), who’s struggled in limited action this year. The veteran righty was shuffled in the rotation due to a midweek rainout and will look to reset against a team he’s gone 2-4 with a 7.11 ERA against in his career.

If you’re watching how the pitching will shape up in this one, it’s also a good time to dig into the best MLB betting picks and predictions — especially in rivalry games like this where momentum can flip quickly.

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Orioles Must Capitalize at Home

Baltimore remains winless on the current homestand (0-4) and is now 8-13 at home on the season. For a team with postseason aspirations, turning things around in front of their home crowd is now imperative.

Saturday’s game is not only a chance to stop the slide but also a necessary step to avoid letting a spiraling stretch define their season.