Akin recalled, Orioles and Red Sox lineups

The Orioles swapped out left-handers this afternoon, recalling Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning Zac Lowther to the Tides.

Akin threw two innings Friday night in his first start with the Tides and he's available in relief tonight. He was on the mound this afternoon for pitchers' fielding practice.

Lowther made his first major league start Saturday night against the Red Sox and allowed seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Trying to avoid a four-game sweep at home, the Orioles are starting Ryan McKenna in right field and moving up Ryan Mountcastle to the cleanup spot to close out their series against the Red Sox.

DJ Stewart is out of the lineup with a sore left hamstring, but manager Brandon Hyde said the leg is improving. Stewart was removed yesterday for a pinch-runner.

Third baseman Maikel Franco, in a 3-for-38 slump, took early batting practice after sitting out yesterday's game. He's back in the lineup tonight.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis has a 10-game hitting streak, three short of his career high set in 2017. He's batting .344 (11-for-32) with three doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, three runs scored, one walk and one hit by pitch during his current streak.

Four of center fielder Cedric Mullins' six home runs have tied the game or given the Orioles a lead.

Jorge López has a 6.49 ERA and 1.367 WHIP in six starts covering 26 1/3 innings. He's hoping to hit the pause button on the narrative that he can't get through the fifth inning, which he's done only once this season.

In his last two starts, López has held opponents to three runs in 8 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox saw López on April 11 at Camden Yards and tallied seven runs and eight hits in four innings. Alex Verdugo and J.D. Martinez hit home runs.

Martinez had three that day.

Rafael Devers is batting .310/.429/.897 with two doubles, five home runs and 13 RBIs in eight games against the Orioles this season.

Red Sox left-hander Martín Pérez has allowed 14 earned run (16 total) and 31 hits in 28 2/3 innings. He's surrendered only one home run.

Pérez owns a 5.27 ERA and 1.357 WHIP in 12 career starts against the Orioles.

The Orioles are trying to avoid falling a season-worst five games below .500. They've homered in their last 10 games.

Left-hander John Means was named American League Player of the Week after tossing a no-hitter Wednesday in Seattle. Means became the first Orioles pitcher to receive the honor since Arthur Rhodes in August 1994.

Rhodes threw back-to-back shutouts in Minnesota and Milwaukee in his last two starts of the strike-shortened season.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Trey Mancini 1B
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Pedro Severino C
Freddy Galvis SS
Maikel Franco 3B
Pat Valaika 2B
Ryan McKenna RF

Jorge López RHP

For the Red Sox
Marwin Gonzalez 2B
Alex Verdugo CF
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Rafael Devers 3B
Christian Vázquez C
Hunter Renfroe RF
Franchy Cordero LF
Bobby Dalbec 1B

Martín Pérez LHP