Trailing the first-place Mets by six games in the NL East, the Nationals are poised to make a move. This is their opportunity with three games against the Orioles, who have the worst home mark in the majors at 13-30.

The Nationals get to open against Jorge Lopez, one of the worst starters in baseball with a 2-12 record and 6.04 ERA. Lopez has reached the sixth inning just once in his last seven starts. The Nationals got their bad game out of the way during their last game, a 3-1 loss to the Marlins where they hit into four double plays. Prior to that, though, the hot hitting Nationals were averaging 8.8 runs during their last five games.

Washington starter Patrick Corbin had a very strong year two seasons ago. He started this year slow, but had an excellent June. This month not so good. Still, I like Corbin to get things turned around here against a Baltimore club that ranks 24th in runs and 25th in homers.