Orioles roster moves and notes

Jordan Westburg is making his major league debut tonight, position and spot in batting order to be announced later.

The Orioles selected Westburg’s contract and optioned infielder Joey Ortiz to Triple-A Norfolk. Catcher José Godoy cleared outright waivers yesterday and accepted an assignment to Norfolk, which opened a spot on the 40-man roster.

Every move was anticipated and made official.

Ortiz appeared in only four games this month and needs regular at-bats, which he can find at Triple-A. Godoy didn’t make it into a game after the Orioles selected his contract June 18.

Westburg wasn’t summoned to sit. He’ll be in tonight’s lineup, especially against Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson.

The expectation is that Westburg will replace left-handed hitting Adam Frazier at second base or move to the left side of the infield with Gunnar Henderson. It depends whether Jorge Mateo remains at shortstop.

However it shakes out, he’s going to wear No. 11 and receive a loud ovation.

Left-hander Cole Irvin stays in the rotation and makes his sixth start and eighth appearance. He pitched twice in relief against the Reds as a Phillies rookie in September 2019 and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Adley Rutschman needs two more hits in his next two games to become the first catcher since Jorge Posada in 2000 to record 75-plus hits and 50-plus walks in 75 games, according to STATS.

Williamson, a second-round pick of the Mariners in 2019 out of TCU, has made seven starts this year as a rookie and posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.391 WHIP in 36 2/3 innings.

The Reds are a surprising 41-37 and in first place in the National League Central, winners of 12 in a row before losing their last two games to the Braves by 7-6 scores. They come to Baltimore for the first time since 2014.

They won two of three games against the Orioles last year in Cincinnati but are 1-5 all-time at Camden Yards. They won Game 4 of the 1970 World Series at Memorial Stadium.

The teams are tied for most comeback wins this season with 27.

The Reds have scored 15 runs in the ninth inning this month, most in the majors, and the Orioles have allowed three.

The Reds’ rotation ranks 28th in the majors with a 5.91 ERA and is missing Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo to injuries.

Elly De La Cruz was baseball’s No. 1 prospect when the Reds promoted him, and he’s batted .333/.395/.594 with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 17 games. He’s stolen eight bases in nine attempts.

De La Cruz hit for the cycle in his 15^th game.

The Reds are 14-4 since his arrival.