Orioles shuffle lineup with opposing lefty starter

Austin Hays is the leadoff hitter tonight and Anthony Santander makes his seventh start at first base as the Orioles try to clinch the division.

The magic number is down to two. The Rays play the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m.

Gunnar Henderson moves down to fifth against left-hander Patrick Corbin. He has 65 extra-base hits to tie Cal Ripken Jr.’s club rookie record. Last night’s leadoff home run was his 100^th career RBI.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. Aaron Hicks is in right field and batting cleanup. Jordan Westburg gets the start at second base, with Adam Frazier on the bench.

Frazier’s 11 stolen bases equal his career high.

Cedric Mullins is lowered to eighth.

Ryan Mountcastle is eligible to be reinstated from the injured list but the Orioles didn’t make a move. Manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that it could be a few more days.

Grayson Rodriguez is making his 23^rd major league start. His ERA has shrunk to 4.49 in 116 1/3 innings.

Rodriguez has registered a 70.3 strike percentage against right-handed batters since the break, compared to a 63.5 percentage in the first half, per STATS.

The Orioles have gone 90 straight series without being swept.

The Nationals haven’t scored against the Orioles in their last 32 innings, their most recent run coming on a Luke Voit homer on Sept. 14, 2022. They’ve lost the last six games against the Orioles dating back to last season, tied for their longest streak since the teams first met in 2006.

The Orioles finally face a lefty.

Corbin is 10-14 with a 5.13 ERA and 1.466 WHIP in 31 starts. He’s lost 49 games over the last three seasons.

Corbin is making his eighth career start and ninth appearance against the Orioles. He’s posted a 4.93 ERA in 42 innings.

Hays is 7-for-12 with two doubles, a triple and a home run. Santander is 5-for-13 with two doubles and a home run.

For the Orioles
Austin Hays LF
Adley Rutschman DH
Anthony Santander 1B
Aaron Hicks RF
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Jordan Westburg 2B
James McCann C
Cedric Mullins CF
Jorge Mateo SS

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

A No. 5 banner is hanging from the warehouse to honor Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, who passed away yesterday.