Santander starting at first base tonight

The Orioles begin a four-game home series against the Angels tonight with Anthony Santander starting at first base and Terrin Vavra playing right field.

Santander hasn’t played first in the majors. He made nine starts in A ball in 2016.

Also in the lineup against Shohei Ohtani are Ryan Mountcastle as the designated hitter and Adam Frazier at second base. Jorge Mateo is back at shortstop after resting yesterday.

The Orioles’ 26 wins are the most through 40 games since 2012. The club record is 28 in 1970, followed by 27 in 1997 and 1969.

All five Orioles with 20 or more RBIs are under 30 years old, tying them with the Rays for the most, according to STATS.

Orioles batters lead the American League with 3.90 walks per game. The club has ranked first six times, most recently in 1990 with 4.10.

The Orioles won six games against the Angels last year for the first time since 2010.

Reliever Yennier Cano hasn’t allowed a run or walk in 15 appearances. Per STATS, the record to begin a season is 19 by Houston’s Ryan Pressley in 2019. Toronto’s Paul Quantrill is second with 17 in 2001. Cano is third.

Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley (1990), the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera (2008) and the Brewers’ Trevor Hoffman (2009) are tied with 14.

The only longer streak of games without a run or walk by an Oriole pitcher at any point in a season is 16 by left-hander Troy Patton in 2012.

Catcher Adley Rutschman has drawn 97 walks since he made his major league debut on May 21, 2022, third most in the majors on that date behind Juan Soto (139) and Aaron Judge (112).

Mike Trout has homered in eight consecutive series versus the Orioles, the longest active streak for a player against any opponent. Miguel Cabrera had the longest streak against the Orioles with 13 from 2009-2016. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had nine from 2020-2022.

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

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

Triple-A Norfolk’s Colton Cowser has been named International League Player of the Week again after going 11-for-22 in Jacksonville with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIS, eight walks and nine runs scored. He registered a .613 on-base percentage and .864 slugging percentage.

Double-A Bowie’s Cade Povich was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week again after tossing five scoreless innings with three hits and 10 strikeouts.