The Orioles made it to the postseason for the first times since the 1990s in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
The Nationals made it to the postseason for the first times since the Expos almost made it in 1994 in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
In 2017, the Orioles had a disappointing season and had to decide what direction to go.
The Nats went to the postseason in 2017 but again failed to advance, and in 2018 had a disappointing season and had to decide what direction to go.
In 2018, the Orioles decided to take a shot with the team they had, augmented with a couple of pitching pickups, and got off to a disastrous start. They finally decided to blow the team up, and are now in a protracted rebuild and reorganization of their entire team philosophy.
In 2019, The Nats lost one key player, but augmented their pitching, and got off to a disastrous start (the 2018 Orioles were 16-34 after 50 games, so worse than the 2019 Nats, but basically only by one series sweep). More than a few wanted them to blow the team up, fire the manager, and start over. Aren't you glad they didn't?
Some superficially eerie similarities, though obviously many key differences, not the least of which is that Cobb and Cashner were no Corbin and Sanchez. And of course a smaller market and the division they play in, though the division is less and less of an excuse given what Tampa Bay has managed to do in the division with competent management.