Orioles put Hays on injured list and option Kremer

Outfielder Austin Hays has gone on the injured list for a second time with a hamstring injury and the Orioles recalled Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk as they close out their series in Minnesota.

Hays injured his right hamstring during the third game of the season in Boston. He experienced tightness in the left one following Sunday's game in D.C.

Hays is batting .252/.319/.455 with six doubles, two triples, five home runs and 15 RBIs in 32 games.

The Orioles optioned pitcher Dean Kremer to Norfolk and didn't announce a corresponding move, but left-hander Keegan Akin could replace him in the rotation.

Kremer is 0-5 with a 6.87 ERA and 1.658 WHIP in nine starts. He allowed five runs and six hits last night in four innings.

Perhaps reliever Dillon Tate is activated from the injured list after a spotless inning last night with Norfolk.

Stevie Wilkerson is in left field this afternoon. DJ Stewart is in right and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is catching.

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup after being hit on the left hand last night. X-rays were negative.

Santander is batting .409 (9- for-22) with four doubles, a home run and three RBIs since coming off the injured list.

Stewart has homered in back-to-back games, both in the eighth inning, for the third time in his career.

Pedro Severino has recorded an RBI in five of his last eight games after collecting only two in his first 27.

Jorge López completed five innings in his last start for only the third time in nine attempts. He's 2-1 with a 5.72 ERA and 1.235 in seven career games against the Twins and owns a 6.19 ERA and 1.188 WHIP in four games at Target Field spanning 16 innings.

The Orioles are trying to snap an eight-game losing streak. They've dropped 15 of their last 17.

The Twins have won 14 consecutive games against the Orioles dating back to March 31, 2018. It's the fourth-longest streak against the Orioles in club history.

Right-hander Michael Pineda has made seven starts this season and posted a 2.79 ERA and 1.009 WHIP in 38 2/3 innings. He's struck out 39 batters.

Pineda has allowed three earned runs or fewer in six starts and two or fewer in five.

Today marks Pineda's 14th career start against the Orioles. He's registered a 3.86 ERA and 1.217 WHIP in 72 1/3 innings.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Freddy Galvis SS
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander DH
DJ Stewart RF
Maikel Franco 3B
Stevie Wilkerson LF
Pat Valaika 2B
Chance Sisco C

Jorge López RHP

Here are the starters for the series against the White Sox in Chicago:

Thursday: Bruce Zimmermann vs. Dylan Cease
Friday: Matt Harvey vs. Dallas Keuchel
Saturday: John Means vs. Lance Lynn
Sunday: TBD vs. Lucas Giolito

Single-game tickets for Orioles home games go on sale to the general public at noon today.