Outfielder Aaron Hicks is expected to stay in the Orioles’ lineup tonight for the series opener against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. His knack for reaching base is keeping him off the bench.

Hicks is 10-for-29 since the Yankees released him, with two doubles, one triple, one home run and seven walks. He’s batting .345/.472/.586 and has gotten on base in all 10 games, collecting hits in seven of them.

Evidence began to surface that Hicks was heating up. He went 6-for-17 in his last seven games with the Yankees before they designated him for assignment, including a 3-for-4 night in Toronto from the bottom of the lineup.

What’s happening now is next level.

This is Hicks’ longest on-base streak since a 12-game run from Sept. 5-18, 2020. His four extra-base hits are one more than he registered in 28 games with the Yankees this season.

The Orioles could send a catcher to the All-Star Game for the first time since 2016 and have their first healthy starter at the position in 36 years.

Adley Rutschman is the leader in voting in the American League at 460,496 to give him a comfortable margin over the Rangers’ Jonah Heim (320,028), a former Orioles minor leaguer. The Royals’ Salvador Pérez is third at 312,615.

Matt Wieters was an All-Star in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016. He was leading AL catchers in voting in 2014 when he sustained an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

Terry Kennedy was voted into the All-Star Game in 1987, and Mickey Tettleton was a reserve two years later.

Rutschman didn’t make his major league debut last year until May 21 and was slow to heat up, but he emerged as the immediate favorite in 2023 and is batting .274/.390/.410 with eight doubles, eight home runs, 28 RBIs and 46 walks that lead the league.

When breaking down the differences between his time with Triple-A Norfolk this year compared to the majors, the stuff that really stood out to him, Cole Irvin’s mind immediately went to the obvious contrast.

The one that might stand alone and made him smile.

He couldn’t resist.

“I think the postgame celebrations are slightly different,” he quipped.

That’s a fair point. The Orioles are in a league of their own when it comes to saluting wins and milestones. They are the masters of merriment. The lights, the smoke, the loud music, the shower cart treatments that threaten to deplete the condiments supply in the food room.

The Orioles’ 22^nd comeback win of the season was planted today in the top of the first inning, uprooted and planted again in the third. The team that digs in and finds a way.

The Royals used an opener while trying to avoid being swept. The Orioles used another variation of their lineup, sitting some regulars and toying again with the order.

Their methods keep working.

Josh Lester started at first base and broke a tie in the third with a two-run single, Gunnar Henderson hit a 462-foot three-run homer and came within a triple of the cycle, Ryan O’Hearn homered and reached base five times for the only time in his career, and the Orioles defeated Kansas City 11-3 before an announced crowd of 23,255 at Camden Yards. They’ve won four in a row to move 17 games above .500 at 41-24 for the first time since July 26, 2016.

Their 41^st win last season came on July 8 in their 85^th game. Today marked their first sweep of the Royals since 2017.

The Orioles are breaking out another version of their lineup for today’s series finale against the Royals.

Ryan Mountcastle is on the bench again due to an illness. Adley Rutschman isn’t starting, though he always seems to find his way into a game.

Josh Lester is the first baseman today.

Ryan O’Hearn is starting in right field and batting fourth. Gunnar Henderson is the shortstop, and he stays in the leadoff spot after homering again yesterday.

Kyle Gibson will try for his seventh quality start. He faced the Royals last month in Kansas City and allowed a season-high six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The Orioles scored twice in the first inning yesterday and Gunnar Henderson homered into the bullpen in the second. A three-run lead before some fans had found their seats.

Félix Bautista had pitched on back-to-back days and in three of the last four, refusing to allow a run or issue a walk, limiting opponents to one measly hit and striking out seven batters.

Manager Brandon Hyde had no desire to use Bautista again, but it was nice to find out early that a closer might not be necessary.

It wasn’t official until Adam Frazier’s two-run homer in the eighth expanded the lead to 6-1, which became the final score over the Royals.

Mike Baumann worked a low-leverage ninth and the bullpen whittled its ERA to 3.34, fifth in the majors. Bautista and Yennier Cano could prop up their feet and watch.

The Orioles optioned left-hander Nick Vespi to Triple-A Norfolk this morning as the corresponding move to Cole Irvin’s return.

Vespi lasted one day in his second stint. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles this season.

Irvin was recalled to make his fourth start with the Orioles, and his first since April 13. He owns a 2.19 ERA in four career starts against the Royals.

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup again today due to an illness that forced him to the bench last night.

Gunnar Henderson has moved up to the leadoff spot after his career-high three hits last night. Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman, Adam Frazier is at second base, and Josh Lester is the designated hitter.

Tyler Wells needed four pitches to dispose of Royals leadoff hitter Nick Pratto last night, getting a swing and miss on his fastball for the game’s first out.

Félix Bautista began his quest for a 17^th save by striking out MJ Melendez and Maikel García with 101 mph heat, the latter frozen by it.

The final team tally was seven strikeouts, a decent total that fell short of the staff’s recent production.

Before last night, Orioles pitchers had struck out nine or more batters in seven consecutive games since May 31, and at least 11 batters in six of seven. The 84 total strikeouts were the most in any seven-game stretch in club history.

This sudden transformation to whiff wizards occurred after the Orioles struck out 40 over six games from May 25-30.

The Orioles didn’t wait until the later innings tonight to flip the switch on their offense.

Austin Hays swung at the first pitch thrown by Daniel Lynch, began to backpedal up the first base line before turning his body, and slowed the pace as the ball settled into the seats in the left field corner.

Gunnar Henderson singled in the second inning, stole second base and scored on Jorge Mateo’s single.

Unlike Hays after his swing, the Orioles were pointed in the right direction.

Henderson produced his first career three-hit game, Tyler Wells was charged with two runs in 6 2/3 innings, and the Orioles began their homestand with a 3-2 victory over the Royals before an announced crowd of 18,076 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles’ lineup tonight was influenced by Ryan Mountcaste’s health rather than his slump.

Mountcastle is under the weather, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Anthony Santander is playing first base and James McCann is serving as designated hitter.

“Just not feeling real good,” Hyde said. “Tried to play through it yesterday. I could tell he wasn’t feeling well. He tried to battle through it and still feeling sick today, so we decided to give him a day today.”

Mountcastle went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts yesterday and is batting .227/.264/.421 in 60 games. He’s drawn 12 walks and struck out 64 times in 261 plate appearances.

A change in months hasn’t shortened the skid. Mountcastle is 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts after batting .222/.275/.435 in May. He has four hits in his last 30 at-bats.

The Orioles will recall left-hander Cole Irvin to start Saturday afternoon’s game against the Royals at Camden Yards.

A corresponding move will be made to accommodate him on the roster.

Irvin hasn’t started for the Orioles since allowing six runs in four innings against the Athletics on April 13. He made a relief appearance on May 20 after they recalled him, allowing a hit in one-third of an inning in Toronto.

The Saturday game will mark Irvin’s fourth start since the Orioles acquired him from the Athletics. He’s 0-2 with a 10.38 ERA and 2.000 WHIP in 13 innings and averaging 5.5 walks.

The time in Norfolk led to a 6-1 record, 3.21 ERA and 1.048 WHIP in seven starts, with only four walks in 42 innings.

The Orioles made another adjustment to their bullpen before tonight’s series opener against the Royals at Camden Yards.

Left-hander Nick Vespi was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and lefty Bruce Zimmermann was optioned, giving manager Brandon Hyde an available arm in relief. Zimmermann threw 61 pitches in three innings Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

Vespi is waiting to make his first appearance in 2023. He was recalled on May 12 and optioned two days later.

The numbers in Triple-A are worthy of a second promotion.

Vespi is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.984 WHIP and seven saves in 19 games with Norfolk. He’s allowed four runs and 15 hits with five walks and 21 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings.

MILWAUKEE – Ramón Urías rounded first base, smacked his hands together and pointed at the sky. On a routine single in the ninth inning of a 10-0 game that felt like much more.

Urías had two hits in 25 at-bats after his activation from the injured list. The hamstring was healed. His offensive stats were hurting.

Manager Brandon Hyde excluded Urías from Wednesday night’s lineup, offering him a reset and a chance to concentrate on his workday. Try to recapture the timing that made him one of the team’s most clutch hitters. Timing apparently lost during an almost three-week absence from the majors.

The ground ball that scooted into left field after he came off the bench could have been a 110-mph line drive and Urías was going to react in the same manner. Joy and relief intertwined at first base.

Urías started at third base yesterday and doubled to right field in his first at-bat, homered in the seventh inning to ruin Milwaukee’s shutout bid, and singled in the ninth. A triple shy of the cycle, and his first three-hit game since May 5.

MILWAUKEE – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wanted better at-bats from his club today. Get in more favorable counts. Improve the pitch selection and decision making. Stop pressing.

Start scoring again.

Kyle Bradish settled down after an unusually rough first inning, and an offense that was dormant for most of the series bolted upright against the Brewers’ bullpen, with Gunnar Henderson’s two-run shot in the eighth keying a 6-3 victory before an announced crowd of 27,318 at American Family Field.

Anthony Santander doubled off Peter Strzelecki with one out in the eighth to score Adley Rutschman. Austin Hays took a disputed third strike, but Henderson carried a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence.

Henderson raised his arm as he approached second base. An entire team was lifted.

MILWAUKEE – The Orioles try to avoid their first sweep this afternoon with Austin Hays in center field and batting cleanup, and Gunnar Henderson replacing Jorge Mateo at shortstop.

Ryan Mountcastle has returned to the lineup after being on the bench for two of the last five games. He’s 4-for-26 in his last seven and batting sixth today.

Anthony Santander is in right field and batting third. He’s 0-for-20 on the road trip.

James McCann is catching and Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.

Ryan O’Hearn is starting in left field. Aaron Hicks, who’s 7-for-19 with the Orioles, is on the bench.

MILWAUKEE – The latest road trip ends today with Kyle Bradish starting for the Orioles. Tyler Wells is next in line, pitting him against the Royals.

The Orioles will confirm Wells in today’s game notes but might list Saturday as TBA because they aren’t ready to commit to a fifth starter.

A decision is pending, and the Orioles probably have their choices laid out in front of them.

Grayson Rodriguez isn’t eligible to return unless he’s replacing an injured player. We can excuse him from this discussion.

Rodriguez is allowed to come back after the weekend and he’s basically in reset mode with Triple-A Norfolk, with his next start scheduled for Saturday night but vulnerable to another change following a second postponement last night due to the air quality in Scranton-Wilkes/Barre. His absence isn’t expected to be prolonged. He just needed to work on fastball command and maybe regain whatever confidence might have chipped away.

MILWAUKEE – The goals have shifted for the Orioles as they near the conclusion of their latest road trip.

Don’t get swept. Try to go .500.

Try to keep the first-place Rays within viewing distance and don’t let anyone get too close.

Corbin Burnes tossed eight scoreless innings, rookie Joey Wiemer homered twice and had five RBIs, and the Brewers scored six runs off Dean Kremer in a 10-2 victory before an announced crowd of 22,320 at American Family Field.

The Orioles won two of three games from the Giants but have dropped the first two in Milwaukee. Their record is 37-24, still good for second place in the division but leaving them 6 ½ behind Tampa Bay, which got a walk-off home run from Randy Arozarena.

MILWAUKEE – Ramón Urías will watch his younger brother tonight from the visiting dugout. He can wave toward the home side.

Urías started at third base last night, with Luis playing second for the Brewers. Ramón isn’t in the lineup while mired in a 2-for-25 slump. Luis also is sitting.

The brothers hadn’t played in the same major league game before, creating a unique experience for the family.

“It was a special moment,” Ramón said this afternoon. “We were looking forward to this game, and it was an exciting moment to be on the field.”

One that they dreamed about growing up in Mexico.

MILWAUKEE – Gunnar Henderson has returned to the Orioles lineup tonight for the first time since Saturday.

Henderson was day-to-day with discomfort in his lower back.

Josh Lester is the designated hitter and Ryan O’Hearn gets the start at first base.

Ryan Mountcastle and Ramón Urías are on the bench.

Adam Frazier is leading off again.

MILWAUKEE – Josh Lester hadn’t heard from the Orioles on Tuesday and took it as a positive sign.

They needed to make a corresponding move while reinstating left-hander Danny Coulombe from the bereavement list. Lester’s contract was selected over the weekend with Coulombe leaving the club, giving the Orioles 14 position players.

Sending Lester back down seemed like the predictable move. That’s often how it works. However, the club decided to option another left-handed hitter, Terrin Vavra, and keep Lester on the bench for the Milwaukee series.

“Obviously, I knew who I came up for and kind of the situation, the timetable of that,” Lester said, “but I didn’t know what would happen.”

So, how did Lester find out that he was staying in the majors after collecting his first hit and RBIs on Sunday?