Orioles vs. White Sox in series opener (updated)

The Orioles begin their series against the White Sox tonight needing one more victory to guarantee back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2012-14.

Austin Hays is out of tonight’s lineup. Ryan McKenna is in left field.

Ryan O’Hearn is playing right. He hit his 11^th home run yesterday after totaling 12 from 2020-22.

Gunnar Henderson’s 11-game hitting streak ended yesterday. He’s the shortstop tonight.

Adley Rutschman is hitting 86 points higher this season at Camden Yards (.319) than in road games (.233). The only other qualifying American League batter with a home average at least 80 points higher than his road mark is the Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo at .288 and .188, per STATS.

Grayson Rodriguez has posted a 3.24 ERA and 1.080 in seven starts in the second half. He’s registered four quality starts in his last five outings.

Rodriguez faced the White Sox on April 16 in Chicago and allowed four runs and six hits with eight strikeouts in five innings. Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger homered in a four-run first inning, but the Orioles won 8-4.

Per STATS, Rodriguez’s 24.3 strikeout rate is the highest for any rookie pitcher in Orioles history.

The Orioles have won their last three series against the White Sox after going 0-7 total in 2021. They’ve won at least four in a row three times in club history.

The Orioles are 31-17 after a loss, the second highest win percentage (.646) in the majors behind the Dodgers’ .714.

Three straight games against the Rockies decided by one run represents the Orioles’ longest streak since July 4-6, 2022.

White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech is 5-11 with a 4.95 ERA and 1.492 WHIP in 24 starts. His 80 walks lead the American League.

Kopech tossed four scoreless innings with one hit allowed in his last start versus the Mariners but left with leg cramps. He hasn’t gone more than 4 1/3 innings in his last three outings, or 5 2/3 in his last 12.

Kopech faced the Orioles on April 15 and allowed three runs and six hits with four walks in five innings. Jorge Mateo and Anthony Santander hit home runs.

The season has been a bust for the White Sox, who are 52-79 overall and 24-42 on the road, and recently fired executive vice president Kenny Williams and general manager Rick Hahn.

The White Sox’s team .687 OPS is 28^th in the majors, and their 545 runs are 25^th.  Their 4.79 ERA is 26^th.

The 5.06 road ERA is third highest in the majors, behind the Athletics (6.47) and Royals (5.37).

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman C
Gunnar Henderson SS
Anthony Santander DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ryan O’Hearn RF
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B
Adam Frazier 2B
Ryan McKenna LF

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

Outfielder Aaron Hicks is taking high-velocity batting practice this week at Camden Yards and in Arizona. His back feels much better and he hopes to be reinstated from the injured list while the Orioles are in Anaheim.

The Orioles released pitcher Ofreidy Gómez from Triple-A Norfolk’s roster yesterday.

Update: Manager Brandon Hyde didn’t have anymore information on closer Félix Bautista, who was in the clubhouse for a few minutes during media access to change into his white uniform for the team photo. He wasn't made available to reporters.

Hays isn’t in the lineup, but Hyde said it’s just a day off.

For the White Sox
Tim Anderson SS
Andrew Benintendi LF
Luis Robert Jr. CF
Eloy Jiménez DH
Yoan Moncada 3B
Gavin Sheets 1B
Lenyn Sosa 2B
Oscar Colas RF
Korey Lee C

Michael Kopech RHP