WASHINGTON — The Beltway Series between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles lost a little luster last season when the annual event was switched to just two games at each park. In the past, each team hosted a three-game series — normally on the weekend — between the two teams.
But this year’s event, which begins Monday at Nationals Park, should be a good one as each team is once again at or near the top of the standings in their respective division.
The Nationals are a 1/2 game back of Atlanta in the National League East division while the Orioles are two games up on the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East division.
After two games in Washington, the Orioles will host the Nationals in Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday. The Nationals are slated to start Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez in the four games against the Orioles.
Baltimore is slated to start Chris Tillman, Bud Norris, Wei-Yin Chen and Ubaldo Jimenez. The Nationals are 12-11 at home against the Orioles and 8-15 on the road for an overall mark of 20-26.
“We should have a pretty good scouting report against them,” said pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who pitched six scoreless innings Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.