Orioles activating Austin Hays from injured list

Austin Hays is going to be activated from the injured list and is in tonight's lineup for the series opener against the Braves at Camden Yards.

The Orioles must make a corresponding roster move to accommodate Hays, who's been on the IL with a non-displaced fracture in his left ribcage.

Hays is slashing .203/.273/.246 in 19 games.

Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't posted his lineup, but Chance Sisco is in it.

Thomas Eshelman is expected to start Tuesday night, as long as he isn't needed tonight out of the bullpen.

Eshelman is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.080 WHIP in nine games, including three starts.

Hyde said Ryan Mountcastle is also going to play first base this month, though left field remains his primary position.

Mountcastle took ground balls at first base again today before batting practice. He practiced making the toss to the pitcher covering the bag, throwing to second base for the force and scooping balls in the dirt.

Putting Mountcastle at first base allows Hyde to get more of his outfielders in the lineup. Hyde can shift Cedric Mullins to one of the corners opposite DJ Stewart, for example.

Braves right-hander Touki Toussaint, the 16th overall pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, has allowed 19 earned runs (20 total) in 21 2 /3 innings. He's averaging 5.4 walks and 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Toussaint hasn't pitched since making an Aug. 23 relief appearance against the Phillies. His last start was Aug. 17 against the Nationals, when he allowed four runs and walked six batters in three innings.

Right-handed hitters are slashing .210/.341/.322 against Toussaint in 249 career plate appearances. Left-handers are hitting .279/.416/.507.

Toussaint has never faced the Orioles. The Braves recalled him earlier today.

Atlanta's roster includes former Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis and reliever Darren O'Day.

Markakis, who opted back into the season in late July, is batting .263/.327/.421 with 12 doubles, one home run and 12 RBIs in 28 games. O'Day has allowed only one earned run with 18 strikeouts in 13 innings.

For the Braves
Ronald Acuña Jr. CF
Freddie Freeman 1B
Marcell Ozuna DH
Travis d'Arnaud C
Dansby Swanson SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Duvall LF
Austin Riley 3B
Ozzie Albies 2B

Touki Toussaint RHP