Mountcastle returns to Orioles lineup, plus notes (updated)

With the Angels starting left-hander Tyler Anderson in today’s rubber match in Anaheim, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde posted a lineup that doesn’t included Heston Kjerstad or Jackson Holliday.

Kjerstad went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in last night’s 7-4 loss. Holliday was 1-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts.

Jorge Mateo is playing second base. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter with James McCann behind the plate.

Rutschman was 3-for-5 last night and raised his average to .323 with a .785 OPS.

Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base after delivering a pinch-hit single last night. He replaced Ryan O’Hearn, who had a two-run double and walked twice.

Mountcastle was out of the lineup the past two games with a sore knee.

Jordan Westburg is batting fifth.

The bullpen tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings last night after Grayson Rodriguez allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3. Dillon Tate (1 2/3), Keegan Akin (two-thirds) and Yohan Ramírez (1 1/3) kept it close, and Gunnar Henderson’s solo homer in the seventh accounted for the final margin.

Anthony Santander is slashing .296/.387/.630 in his last seven games after posting a .180/.215/.361 line through his first 15.

Dean Kremer has allowed three runs or fewer in three of his four starts. He’s 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 1.174 WHIP in three career starts against the Angels, allowing three runs in 15 1/3 innings.

Mickey Moniak is 2-for-5 with a home run against Kremer.

The Orioles are 15-8 and trail the Yankees by a half-game in the American League East. They’ve gone 2-1 in rubber games after posting a 12-8 record last season.

Anderson has made four starts this season and surrendered only four earned runs and 15 hits in 25 1/3 innings. He’s made one career start against the Orioles, on May 18, 2023 in Baltimore, and allowed three runs in five innings.

Santander is 1-for-2 with a home run and walk.

The splits are pretty even. Left-handed hitters bat .259/.319/.429 and right-handers bat .253/.310/.437.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Jordan Westburg 3B
Cedric Mullins CF
James McCann C
Colton Cowser LF
Jorge Mateo 2B

Dean Kremer RHP

Longtime Baltimore sportswriter and official scorer Jim Henneman is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday afternoon’s game against the Athletics at Camden Yards. Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel will catch it.

The Orioles renamed their press box this year to honor Henneman.

Former Orioles pitcher Art Schallock celebrates his 100^th birthday on Thursday. Schallock, a left-hander who spent the majority of his final season with the club in 1955, is the oldest living former major leaguer.

Here are the starters for the Oakland series:

Friday: RHP Corbin Burnes vs. RHP Ross Stripling
Saturday: LHP Cole Irvin vs. LHP JP Sears
Sunday: RHP Albert Suárez vs. RHP Paul Blackburn

Update: Hyde told the media in Anaheim that John Means is a possibility for Sunday. Otherwise, it's Suárez.

Also, the Orioles say Cionel Pérez begins his rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A Norfolk.

The Reds claimed outfielder Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Orioles.