Hyde on Hays' pending return, Núñez's latest streak and more

The Orioles are prepared to activate Austin Hays from the injured list early this week, increasing their options in the outfield and perhaps giving a slumping offense a needed jolt.

Hays hasn't played since Aug. 14 due to a non-displaced fracture in his left ribcage. He's been active lately in simulated games at the alternate camp site in Bowie and took batting practice yesterday at Camden Yards.

"He has been taking at-bats and I can see him being activated here in the next couple days," manager Brandon Hyde said this morning in his Zoom conference call with the media.

Cedric Mullins is making another start today in center field and Hyde will figure out how to juggle the lineup. He's also got DJ Stewart in right field, and Ryan Mountcastle won't vacate left.

"I think we're going to rotate and match up and both guys will see center field time still," Hyde said. "I plan on playing all those guys. It's definitely not a problem. It's a positive thing to get Austin back, and looking forward to watching him play the last couple of weeks.

"I'm just going to mix and match and all those guys will still play."

The Orioles won't make hard judgments on Hays based on the games he's able to play this month. He slashed .203/.273/.246 in 77 plate appearances, but was 8-for-28 in his last seven starts.

"I'm not looking to really evaluate him, I'm looking for him to just go play," Hyde said.

"I believe in the player and I like his game a lot. I don't think he got off to the start that he wanted, that he had in mind, but he finished the year so well last year. I think he's extremely talented. I like him defensively, I like him offensively, I like that he's able to hit the ball to all fields, I think he's got some juice where he can really drive the ball out to the opposite field. So I'm not looking for him to put pressure on himself to play well these play couple weeks like he's being evaluated. I just want him to go play.

"I think the organization is really high on him, and I think he's going to be a really good major league player."

Renato Núñez is 11-for-21 with four home runs and eight RBIs lifetime against Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ. He could use a favorable matchup, with three hits in his last eight games spanning 29 at-bats.

He has one home run, one walk and 11 strikeouts in that stretch.

"He's been scuffling the last couple weeks," Hyde said. "I just feel like Noonie is streaky, and we're hoping that he gets on a hot streak these last couple of weeks. Kind of similar to last year where he would have really big offensive weeks and then struggle a little bit, and then find his form and pop a couple homers and be back. I'm hoping it starts today with him.

"He's faced Happ quite a bit and had some success against him, so looking for him to start having good at-bats today."

José Iglesias is the designated hitter in back-to-back games after beginning to make more regular appearances at shortstop. The club has to keep monitoring his left quadriceps and find ways to prevent it from flaring up again.

"He's good," Hyde said. "Have DH'd him on most day games that he's been able to play. He wanted to be in the lineup today, and with it being a day game we're going to DH him again.

The Orioles are listing Tuesday's starter as TBD. Reliever César Valdez isn't a consideration for the assignment after tossing 10 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances, including three yesterday.

He's needed in his current role. Consuming innings, getting outs and bouncing back quickly.

Asked if Valdez is a possibility to start Tuesday, Hyde said, "I don't think so."

"I think Valdez is so valuable," he said. "Valdez can pitch in the third, he can pitch in the seventh, he can pitch in the ninth. He can do a lot of things.

"He's been a great story."

Steve Melewski is handling game coverage today on MASNsports.com.