Hyde on the catchers, Davis, Stewart and more (O's lead 11-5)

ARLINGTON, Tx. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde stopped short today of saying that he'd go with a strict platoon at catcher. However, his roster is set up where Pedro Severino can start against left-handers and Chance Sisco can play versus right-handers.

Severino is in the lineup tonight with the Rangers starting southpaw Drew Smyly. He's slashing .351/.405/.649 when the opponent sends a lefty to the mound.

Sisco is expected to stay on the bench Wednesday night against lefty Mike Minor and make his 2019 debut Thursday night against right-hander Ariel Jurado.

"I think we'll match them up," Hyde said. "Probably right-handers but I think we'll match up him and Sevie as we go along and they're both going to play a lot."

DJ Stewart isn't in the lineup tonight and he's gone hitless in his last 16 at-bats, but he's also going to get an extended look with the Orioles. They'd like for Stewart and Sisco to stay off the Triple-A shuttle and become established in the majors.

There's only one way to find out whether it's possible.

"I just want (Sisco) to do what he was doing in Triple-A," Hyde said. "I talked to Gary (Kendall) earlier today. He's taking really good at-bats against right and left, competing at the plate, making some strides defensively, continuing to make strides defensively, continuing his development on defense here in the big leagues.

"We've got Cuz (Tim Cossins) here who's going to work with him closely on a daily basis. But I don't want him to try to do too much. I think it's really natural, and we talked about it with DJ and some of the guys who come up, they try too much when they get here. I just want them to be themselves and just continue what they've been doing in Triple-A."

Hyde said improvements in Sisco defensively include leadership on the field, how he's commanding the plate and calling pitches.

"A little bit of the intangible part is really improving," Hyde said. "Throwing the ball a little better. And he needs to continue to work on footwork and accuracy. But that's improved since spring training as well and we're looking forward to it continuing here.

"A lot of good things. Obviously he got off to a slow start and started really swinging the bat well and the defense improved."

Chris Davis was reinstated from the 10-day injured list today and he's starting at first base with his average back down to .171.

"He's been out a while," Hyde said. "I just to see him compete at the plate and impact the game offensively. He does a great job defensively for us, but would like to see him engaged offensively and hopefully impact the game from that side."

To create room for Davis, the Orioles lost some of their versatility by having to option Stevie Wilkerson.

"Stevie did a nice job here," Hyde said. "Played a lot of positions for us. Kind of threw him out in a tough spot when we put him in center field and just did an awesome job.

"I like the way Stevie plays. I like his aggressiveness, I like his cocky nature and how he plays with a ton of confidence. I like the fact that he can switch-hit and play multiple positions. So it wasn't easy to send him down, but had to make room for CD and I think we'll see Stevie up here shortly."

In the meantime, Stewart will get a chance to back up Keon Broxton in center field. He's made four starts at the position in the minors, including two last summer with Norfolk.

"DJ's done it in the past, so we're going to put a lot of time in with DJ and making him play well in center field," Hyde said.

"I think anything goes this year. I think we're in a position where we're going to move guys around. We're going to try to create versatility in guys and don't want to just have guys play the corner of the field. We're trying to get guys to develop and play the middle of the field. I think anything's possible."

Hyde tracked the draft selections last night after a round of golf and dinner.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "I watched the draft like everybody else and excited to get (Adley) Rutschman and congratulations to him. Obviously a huge honor. We're excited to have him and congratulations to Mike (Elias) and all the scouts for the job that they've done.

"It's really cool. Obviously it's an unbelievable thing for him and his family and looking forward to seeing him sometime soon."

Hyde used to be a catcher. He can appreciate as much as anyone the tools that Rutschman brings from Oregon State.

"Talking to a lot of scouts and talking to people and watching a lot of video, he's just does it really, really easy," Hyde said. "He's got unbelievable feet, he's got a really strong, accurate arm. Walks really well, commands the game well. Kind of been their captain. The makeup everybody talks about his off the charts. He takes control of the field and he switch-hits and can hit from both sides of the plate.

"We're fortunate to have him and can't wait to get started with him."

The Orioles used their 10th-round pick, the 288th overall, on catcher Jordan Cannon of Sam Houston State in Texas. So far they've taken three shortstops, three outfielders, three catchers and two pitchers.

Improving the depth and athleticism up the middle was a priority, in case no one noticed.

Eight members of the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are headed to the South Atlantic League All-Star Game - Pitchers Grayson Rodriguez, Drew Rom, Ofelky Peralta and Zach Matson, catcher Daniel Fajardo, shortstop Adam Hall, outfielder Doran Turchin and designated hitter Seamus Curran. They're housed at a lower level of the minors, but Hyde appreciates how they contribute to the positive direction that the organization is headed.

"I think there's a lot of good things going on, especially Double-A down, from the standpoint of how the pitchers are, how we're throwing the ball, how we're striking out a ton of hitters at our affiliates, and obviously there are a lot of players who are doing well," Hyde said.

"The more players that are doing well in your organization, it's a huge bonus. Congratulations to those eight."

Update: Dwight Smith Jr. hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Severino followed with a home run to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead.

Update II: Shin-Soo Choo led off the bottom of the first with a home run off Dylan Bundy to reduce the lead to 4-1.

Update III: Trey Mancini's fly ball in the second scored Keon Broxton for a 5-1 lead.

Update IV: Elvis Andrus' sacrifice fly in the third reduced the lead to 5-2. But Broxton led off the fourth with a homer.

Update V: Smith's three-run double in the fourth extended the lead to 9-2.

Update VI: Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-out RBI single in the fourth cut the lead to 9-3.

Update VII: Severino struck again, his two-run shot in the seventh giving the Orioles an 11-3 lead.

Update VIII: The Rangers scored a run off Branden Kline in the seventh on Andrus' RBI single after a wild pitch and Severino's throwing error.

Update IX: Another Texas run scored with two outs in the eighth on Jonathan Villar's throwing error and the Orioles lead 11-5.