The Orioles begin a new series at home tonight, with the Athletics sending the first of three consecutive left-handed starters to the mound.
Ryan McKenna is starting in right field against Oakland’s JP Sears. Anthony Santander is the designated hitter, with Austin Hays in left.
Gunnar Henderson is out of the lineup. Ramón Urías is the third baseman.
Adley Rutschman is catching. He's batting .389/.476/.556 (14-for-36) with two home runs, six RBIs and six walks in nine games. Still no doubles.
Kyle Gibson has won his first two starts while allowing six runs and 12 hits with one walk in 12 innings. He’s 5-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 career starts against the Athletics.
The Orioles’ 15 stolen bases is their highest total in nine games, topping the 13 in 2000, according to STATS. They had 10 in 1974 and 1970.
Jorge Mateo’s five steals through nine games is the second-highest total in club history behind Delino DeShields’ seven in 2000.
The A’s are 2-7 and tied with the Tigers for the worst record in the majors. They rank 29th with a .192 team average, 28th with a .585 OPS, tied for last with 27 runs scored, and last with a 7.54 ERA.
Sears lasted 4 2/3 innings in his first start against the Guardians and allowed three runs and eight hits with five strikeouts. He’s 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three career games (two starts) against the Orioles, with two runs allowed in 12 innings.
His first two major league wins came last year with the Yankees in Baltimore on April 16 and in New York on April 25, after tossing a scoreless relief inning with two hits and a walk, and logging five scoreless innings in his first start.
Sears is a reverse-splits guy, with left-handed hitters batting .304/.381/.357 against him and right-handers batting .257/.313/.434.
For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander DH
Austin Hays LF
Ramón Urías 3B
Adam Frazier 2B
Jorge Mateo SS
Ryan McKenna RF
Kyle Gibson RHP