Mountcastle returns to Orioles lineup, Santander moves to the bench

Ryan Mountcastle is in tonight’s lineup at first base, as the Orioles try to even their series in St. Louis.

Mountcastle came off the bench last night. He hadn’t been in the lineup for two of the last three games.

Kyle Stowers is in right field. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Anthony Santander, playing with a bruised left knee, is on the bench.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup again.

Gunnar Henderson has homered in four consecutive games. He has six hits, seven RBIs and five runs scored in that span.

Per @SlangsOnSports, Henderson is the fifth player age 22 or younger to hit at least 16 homers in his team’s first 45 games of a season, joining Bryce Harper in 2015, Alex Rodriguez in 1998, Harmon Killebrew in 1959 and Eddie Matthews in 1953.

Henderson is the second Orioles player with at least 16 in the first 45 games, joining Brady Anderson in 1996. He’s the first Oriole to hold the outright major league lead in homers on May 20 or later since Mark Trumbo in 2016, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

Colton Cowser is in left field. He’s slashing .318/.373/.636 in 13 games (12 starts) and 51 plate appearances in the seventh spot in the order, but he’s moved up to fifth tonight.

Kyle Bradish is making his fourth start after registering a 2.63 ERA and 1.317 WHIP in 13 2/3 innings. He’s walked six batters and struck out 17. Left-handed hitters have posted a .179 average and .508 OPS against him. Right-handers are batting .292 with an .831 OPS.

Bradish made his only career start against St. Louis on May 10, 2022 in St. Louis and allowed two runs and four hits with 11 strikeouts in seven innings. It was his third major league start.

Harrison Bader hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

The Orioles remained two games behind the first-place Yankees after last night’s 6-3 loss.

Lance Lynn has made nine starts with the Cardinals since signing a one-year deal for $10 million and posted a 4.17 ERA and 1.478 WHIP in 45 1/3 innings. He’s walked 20 batters.

Lynn registered a 2.64 ERA in his first six starts but has a 7.36 ERA in three starts this month, with 12 earned runs and 14 total in 14 2/3 innings. He’s made nine career appearances against the Orioles, including seven starts, and posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.279 WHIP in 45 1/3 innings.

Cedric Mullins is 4-for-11 against Lynn. Jorge Mateo is 2-for-4 with a double and home run. They’re both in the lineup.

James McCann is 2-for-14 with a double and seven strikeouts.

For the Orioles

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

Kyle Bradish RHP

The Friday, May 24 game between the Orioles and White Sox in Chicago will air on Apple TV+.

Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Dontrelle Willis (analyst) and Heidi Watney (sideline reporter) are on the call.

Left-hander Luis De León has been transferred from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen. Shorebirds infielder Leandro Arias was reinstated from the injured list. Left-hander Juan Rojas moved up from the Florida Complex League to Delmarva.

Delmarva’s Michael Forret tossed five scoreless innings with three hits allowed today in a 6-5 loss to Columbia. Center fielder Thomas Sosa hit his third home run.

For the Cardinals

Brendan Donovan 3B
Lars Nootbaar RF
Paul Goldschmidt 1B
Nolan Arenado DH
Alec Burleson LF
Iván Herrera C
Nolan Gorman 2B
Masyn Winn SS
Michael Siani CF

Lance Lynn RHP