Orioles and Giants notes, plus pregame notes

The Orioles have lost eight of 11 games and scored 21 runs in that stretch. Tonight’s lineup combination puts Jackson Holliday at second base after Livan Soto made three consecutive starts, and Heston Kjerstad at designated hitter after he came off the bench last night and singled twice.

James McCann is catching. Emmanuel Rivera is playing third base.

Dean Kremer has five quality starts in his last six outings. He’s posted a 3.76 ERA in the second half.

Kremer has made one career start against the Giants and allowed two runs in six innings. Matt Chapman is 2-for-17 with a home run against him, but San Francisco put him on the paternity list today.

Kremer’s fastballs are generating a whiff rate of 32.1 percent in September, per STATS, which is nearly double his 16.8 rate through August.

The Orioles are four games out of first place, their largest deficit since June 6, and 2 ½ ahead for the home wild card. They’ve lost four of their last five, seven of nine and eight of 11, and they’ve gone 26-29 since the break.

They’ve allowed nine leadoff home runs this season, tied with the Mariners for most in the majors.

Reliever Colin Selby is on the taxi squad. Manager Brandon Hyde said the right-hander was summoned in case the Orioles needed to make a pitching move.

Reliever Yennier Cano said via interpreter Brandon Quinones that he was experiencing some forearm tightness but is fine now. He was available last night.

Infielders Ramón Urías and Jordan Westburg are beginning rehab assignments Thursday with Triple-A Norfolk.

Pitcher Chayce McDermott is listed at Norfolk’s starter for Game 1 of its doubleheader. He’s on the injured list with a right scapula stress reaction.

Giants rookie right-hander Hayden Birdsong, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Eastern Illinois, has made 13 starts and posted a 4.74 ERA and 1.421 WHIP with 36 walks and 68 strikeouts in 57 innings. He tossed five scoreless innings against the Brewers on Thursday.

Left-handers are hitting .204 with a .675 OPS and right-handers are hitting .234 with an .827 OPS. Birdsong’s ERA is 3.67 at home and 5.70 on the road.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Cedric Mullins CF
Anthony Santander RF
Heston Kjerstad DH
Colton Cowser LF
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Emmanuel Rivera 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
James McCann C

Dean Kremer RHP

Single-A Delmarva infielder Aron Estrada, 19, was chosen to the Carolina League All-Star team. He hit .296 with a .795 OPS, 18 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 43 RBIs in 91 games, and he stole 31 bases in 39 attempts.

For the Giants

Mike Yastrzemski RF
LaMonte Wade Jr. 1B
Heliot Ramos LF
Michael Conforto DH
Tyler Fitzgerald SS
Grant McCray CF
Casey Schmitt 3B
Donovan Walton 2B
Curt Casali C

Hayden Birdsong RHP