Kjerstad in right field tonight to open series vs. Rangers, update on Kremer's start in Norfolk

The Orioles snapped a five-game losing streak last night and are rewarded with four against the Rangers, who swept them in the Division Series last year and won the World Series.

Heston Kjerstad is in right field tonight and Anthony Santander is on the bench.

Colton Cowser is in left field. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter. Jorge Mateo starts at second base and Jordan Westburg is at third.

Gunnar Henderson’s on-base streak has reached 33 games. He hit his 26th home run last night. The only shortstop to have more homers before July is Alex Rodriguez with 27 in 1998, per STATS.

Here’s the list of Orioles with 25-plus home runs before July:

2024 Gunnar Henderson: 26
2014 Nelson Cruz: 25
2013 Chris Davis: 31
1996 Brady Anderson: 27

Corbin Burnes allowed four runs in seven innings in his most recent appearance to end his quality-starts streak at 10. He’s completed seven innings in four of his last five outings.

Burnes’ 2.35 ERA is the lowest by an Orioles pitcher through his first 16 starts in a season since Jim Palmer’s 1.81 in 1978, and it’s the lowest by pitcher through his first 15 starts to begin his career with the team since Mike Cuellar’s 1.92 in 1969.

Burnes has gone at least five innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer in all nine of his home starts. According to STATS, he’s the first pitcher with this streak to start his career with an American League team since Sad Sam Jones in his first nine home starts with the 1918 Red Sox.

More STATS: Burnes has a 1.84 ERA in his first nine starts in Baltimore and could become the first Oriole to post an ERA below 2.00 in his first 10 since Steve Stone (1.73) in 1979. Jack Fisher had a 1.75 ERA in 1959-60, Robin Roberts had a 1.78 ERA in 1962 and Mike Cuellar had a 1.87 ERA in 1969.

The Rangers are the only team that Burnes hasn’t faced. Corey Seager is 2-for-3 with a double and home run.

The Orioles trail the first-place Yankees by only one game. They’re 9-3 against Texas in the regular season since 2022.

Texas right-hander Jon Gray has posted a 3.03 ERA and 1.234 WHIP in 15 games (13 starts). He’s surrendered only five home runs in 71 1/3 innings.

Gray went on the injured list in May with a groin strain and pitched in relief June 8. He went three innings in a June 12 start in Los Angeles, allowed nine runs and 11 hits in three innings June 17 against the Mets, and shut out the Royals Saturday on two hits in six innings.

Gray has a 2.91 ERA and 1.062 WHIP in four career starts against the Orioles. Adley Rutschman is 4-for-6 with a home run. Henderson is 2-for-6 with a homer.

Ryan Mountcastle is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. He’s batting cleanup tonight.

The Rangers are 37-43, in third place and 7 ½ games behind the Mariners in the American League West. They’re 17-24 on the road. They’ve been swept four times, including their most recent series against the Brewers.

According to STATS, the Rangers are tied for the fifth-worst 80-game start to a season by a defending world champion. The 1998 Marlins are first at 27-53.

Marcus Semien leads the club in hits (79) and RBIs (44).

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Heston Kjerstad RF
Jordan Westburg 3B
Colton Cowser LF
Cedric Mullins CF
Jorge Mateo 2B

Corbin Burnes RHP

Dean Kremer made his third injury rehab start today with Triple-A Norfolk and allowed four runs and six hits with two walks, five strikeouts and 75 pitches thrown in 4 1/3 innings. He surrendered two homers in a three-run fourth. He was stretched out after totaling 39 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in his previous outing.

Kremer needed only six pitches to get three fly balls in the first, but 21 in the second while allowing a run.

Kremer surrendered a combined seven earned runs and 10 total with nine hits in 4 2/3 innings in his first two outings.

Kyle Stowers hit his 13^th home run to tie the game in the second inning. He also tied the franchise career record of 52.  He doubled and tripled to leave him a single shy of the cycle midway through the game.

Connor Norby added an RBI single in the second after Hudson Haskin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Coby Mayo delivered a two-run single. Stowers batted again and drove in another run with a double. Mayo was thrown out at the plate.

Mayo homered for the third day in a row, giving him 17 with Norfolk and 20 on the season. Haskin and David Bañuelos also homered today.

Mayo had a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning for his fourth RBI. New first baseman Garrett Cooper produced a three-run double later in the inning to continue the abuse of Charlotte pitching.