Akin set for surgery, Krehbiel and Ciuffo join O's roster

Orioles rookie left-hander Keegan Akin won't pitch again this season.

Akin was placed on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with a left adductor strain and is set to undergo a surgical procedure.

The Orioles recalled reliever Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Norfolk and purchased the contract of catcher Nick Ciuffo from the Tides. They optioned pitcher Mike Baumann following last night's game because the rookie reached his innings limit of 80 2/3 between the majors and minors.

Krehbiel, signed off waivers from the Rays earlier this week, is wearing No 87. Ciuffo is wearing No. 72.

Rookie pitcher Chris Ellis had a successful bullpen session yesterday and is starting Saturday night against the Rangers. John Means is pushed to Sunday.

Anthony Santander remains out of the lineup tonight with a sore left hamstring, though he's improving.

Austin Hays is in left field and Ryan McKenna is in right.

Ryan Mountcastle's 31 home runs are the most by a rookie in the majors. He's the fifth rookie in the American League since 2000 to hit at least 31.

Twenty-two of his 31 home runs this season have been solo shots.

Rookie Alexander Wells is 1-3 with a 7.96 ERA and 1.832 WHIP in nine games (six starts). He's allowed five runs in each of his last two starts totaling nine innings.

The Orioles are 49-104 overall, 3-1 against the Rangers and 14-15 against the American League West. They've posted shutouts in two of their last four games.

Each of the last three victories has come when scoring three runs or fewer. The Orioles are 6-69 in those games.

Last night's 3-0 win was the first over the Rangers at home since July 15, 2018.

Right-hander Spencer Howard, the Phillies' second-round pick in 2017 who was included in the Ian Kennedy deadline trade, has made six starts with his new team and allowed 14 runs and 17 hits in 13 2/3 innings. He's walked seven batters and struck out 15.

In 23 major league games, Howard has gone 1-6 with a 6.51 ERA and 1.598 WHIP with 69 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He's walked 34 batters.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Austin Hays LF
Trey Mancini DH
Pedro Severino C
Ryan McKenna RF
Pat Valaika 2B
Richie Martin SS
Kelvin Gutiérrez 3B

Alexander Wells LHP

For the Rangers
Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS
Andy Ibañez DH
Adolis García RF
Nathaniel Lowe 1B
Nick Solak 2B
Charlie Culberson 3B
DJ Peters LF
Jonah Heim C
Leody Taveras CF

Spencer Howard RHP