Orioles lineup vs. Pirates

The Orioles have a third left-hander in their bullpen again after recalling Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk. He replaces Drew Rom, who was optioned after Wednesday’s game.

Vespi underwent sports hernia surgery in January and didn’t break camp with the team. He allowed four runs and struck out 17 batters in 12 2/3 innings with the Tides.

Vespi didn’t allow an earned run with Norfolk last season over 28 2/3 innings. He made 25 appearances with the Orioles and was 5-0 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.405 WHIP in 26 1/3 innings.

Kyle Stowers is in right field tonight and trying to heat up after a 2-for-24 start. He’s batting ninth.

Adam Frazier remains in the fifth spot in the order, followed by Austin Hays and Gunnar Henderson.

Kyle Bradish has a 5.95 ERA and 1.729 WHIP in five starts. He allowed three runs and five hits in five innings in Atlanta.

Bradish hasn’t faced the Pirates in his brief major league career.

The rotation has registered a 2.41 ERA in the last six games.

Adley Rutschman broke an 0-for-19 streak with a two-run Eutaw Street home run Tuesday but is hitless in his last 21 at-bats in interleague play. He leads the American League with 30 walks, the most by an Orioles player through 37 games since Albert Belle (36) in 1999.

Jorge Mateo and Cedric Mullins each have at least a dozen extra-base hits and 12 steals. They’re the first teammates to reach those marks within 40 games since the 1988 Reds had Eric Davis, Barry Larkin and Chris Sabo, according to STATS.

The Pirates lead the majors with 48 steals but have been caught in their last five attempts, their longest streak since Aug. 2015 per STATS. They haven’t been thrown out in six straight since 1990.

Pittsburgh is in first place in the NL Central but has lost nine of its last 10 games. The Pirates have scored three runs or fewer in those 10 games for the first time since April 19-May 1, 2006 (11 games). They’re last in the National League during that stretch with a .181 average and 10^th with a 5.02 ERA.

Right-hander Johan Oviedo is facing the Orioles for the first time. He’s registered a 5.59 ERA and 1.622 WHIP in seven starts totaling 37 innings.

Oviedo has registered a 14.14 ERA in the first inning this year, but a 3.60 ERA the rest of the game. Bradish is pretty much the opposite, with no runs allowed in the first and a 7.98 ERA the rest of the game.

Andrew McCutchen has a career .370 average against the Orioles, the fourth highest by an opponent since the franchise moved to Baltimore with a minimum 100 at-bats, though he’s never homered in 10 games at Camden Yards.

The Pirates are 4-13 when scoring two runs or fewer. Per STATS, the Orioles rank first in the majors at 5-5.

No team has finished a season .500 or better when scoring two runs or fewer. The 1906 Cubs are the closest at 20-22.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Adam Frazier 2B
Austin Hays LF
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Jorge Mateo SS
Kyle Stowers RF

Kyle Bradish RHP