Cowser stays in center field for today's series finale

The Orioles are going for the sweep today against the Diamondbacks and trying to improve on a 26-12 record that matches the 1969 and 1970 teams for the best 38-game start in franchise history.

Cedric Mullins is on the bench again today. He struck out yesterday as a pinch-hitter and is 5-for-53 since his two-hit day in Kansas City on April 21.

Colton Cowser gets another start in center field. Ryan O’Hearn is in left after Heston Kjerstad started there yesterday.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman.

Jordan Westburg is playing second base after yesterday’s walk-off single in the 11th inning. Westburg has doubled in three consecutive games, and his four-hit game yesterday was the first of his career and the first this season by an Orioles player.

Westburg is slugging .603 against fastballs this season, and five of his six home runs have come against heaters.

Jorge Mateo is batting .279 when slotted ninth in the order, compared to .190 in the other spots. He’s one of the reserves today.

Dean Kremer is making his eighth start. He’s registered a 3.57 ERA and 0.967 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings. His WHIP is fifth-lowest in the American League behind teammate Corbin Burnes (0.965).

In his last start, Kremer shut out the Reds on one hit over six innings and has allowed only two runs in his last 13 frames. He’s never faced the Diamondbacks.

Kremer is holding right-handed batters to a .094 average in his last three starts, per STATS.

Right-hander Zac Gallen was an All-Star last season and placed third in National League Cy Young voting after going 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.119 WHIP in 34 starts. He’s 4-2 this season with a 2.84 ERA and 1.132 WHIP in seven starts and has struck out 41 batters in 38 innings. He’s surrendered only four home runs.

Gallen’s last start also resulted in one hit allowed in six scoreless innings in Cincinnati.

How’s that for a coincidence?

Gallen faced the Orioles on Sept. 3 and allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

O’Hearn is 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs against Gallen. Gunnar Henderson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. James McCann is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts.

McCann is catching today.

The Diamondbacks are batting .175 in the seventh inning or later this season, worst in the majors, per STATS.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan O’Hearn LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Colton Cowser CF
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C

Dean Kremer RHP

Austin Hays played five innings in left field last night at Double-A Bowie and received two at-bats before coming out of the game following a rain delay. He’s 5-for-12 with a double, two home runs, three RBIs, a walk and three strikeouts.

For the Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll CF
Ketel Marte 2B
Joc Pederson DH
Christian Walker 1B
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF
Eugenio Suárez 3B
Jake McCarthy RF
Kevin Newman SS
Tucker Barnhart C

Zac Gallen RHP




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