The playoff-bound and upstart Baltimore Orioles take on the lowly Washington Nationals in a brief two-game set on Tuesday as the season is coming to a close. They play the opener of this quick series inside Oracle Park, at Camden Yards, in Baltimore, Maryland. They toss out the first pitch at 6:35 p.m.

The Orioles (97-59) are going to make the playoffs, but now it is all about trying to win the AL East, as they have the stacked Tampa Bay Rays nipping at their heels as we come down the home stretch of the season. The Rays are only 2 1/2 games out of first place. The Orioles have a chance to win 100 games but they would much rather lay claim to being the best team in the AL East in a season where many thought they would be the third or fourth best team. 

On offense, they are literally stacked with some serious pop in their lineup from top to bottom. They have a ton of home run hitters but also know how to manufacture runs in tight games which will serve them well come playoff time. As pitching picks up, it is more imperative to find a way to scratch and claw your way to push runs across. 

They are led by Gunnar Henderson who has cracked 27 home runs to go along with 81 RBI and a solid average of .258 on the season. Baltimore has hit a total of 180 home runs this season. They will send out Kyle Bradish who sports a mark of 11-7 to go along with an ERA of 3.01. 

The Nationals (69-88) are just playing out the string. They did not have a ton of expectations heading into the season and they have played like an average club. They did not possess a ton of power in their lineup this season and are led by right fielder Lane Thomas who has cracked a team-high 27 home runs. He has also driven in a team-high 85 runs to go along with an average of .270. 

They have collected a total of 146 home runs this season. If they are going to play some type of spoiler they need to score runs against the Orioles and not have the heart of their lineup disappear. 

They have yet to name a starter for Tuesday's clash. 

The Orioles are 2-3 in their last five games and 1-4 in their last five games against the spread, They are also 56-23 in their road games against the spread and the totals have gone over in one of their last five games and the totals have gone over in 34 of their last 75 games at home. The Nationals are 2-3 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the spread and a very solid 47-29 in their road games against the number. The totals have gone over in four of their last five games and the totals have gone over in 41 of their last 80 games at home.