Núñez set to join the Orioles

The first move following Manny Machado's departure from the Orioles will be selecting Renato Núñez's contract from Triple-A Norfolk as part of a restructuring of the left side of the infield.

Núñez, 24, is batting .289/.361/.443 in 565 games with the Tides, including 14 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 25 RBIs. He's a career .265/.321/.466 hitter in 757 minor league games and belted 32 home runs in 2017 with Triple-A Nashville in the Athletics' system.

The Rangers claimed Núñez off waivers in April and the Orioles claimed him from the Rangers a month later, passed him through waivers and outrighted him. He's back in the majors today after appearing in 30 games with the Athletics and Rangers from 2016-2018.

Núñez went 6-for-36 with a double and home run this year with the Rangers. He's played third base and left field in the majors and also played first and second in the minors, the latter for only two games.

The Orioles can put Núñez at third base and shift Tim Beckham to shortstop after trading Machado to the Dodgers on Wednesday.

The bat has intrigued the Orioles, but Núñez is regarded as below-average in the field. He possesses a strong arm, but the accuracy on his throws can be an issue. He's rated as having fair hands and range.

Won't hurt to take a look at him at this stage of the season.

The Orioles already have used five third basemen, including Beckham before and after his core muscle surgery. Beckham has made 40 starts, Danny Valencia 36, Jace Peterson 14, Pedro Álvarez five and Steve Wilkerson two.

Alvarez was designated for assignment and outrighted to Norfolk. Wilkerson is on the disabled list with an oblique injury.

The Orioles will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move to accommodate Núñez, who's committed five errors in 29 chances at third base in the majors.

Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner come out of the break as the starters in Toronto. The Blue Jays are starting right-handers Sam Gaviglio and Marcus Stroman and left-hander J.A. Happ.

Cashner will come off the disabled list. He's eligible on Saturday, but the Orioles are giving him an extra day.

Gaviglio is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.316 WHIP this season in 13 games (11 starts) totaling 57 innings. He's made three starts this month and allowed eight earned runs (nine total) and 14 hits in 9 1/3 innings.

Gaviglio has posted a 1.97 ERA and 1.188 WHIP in seven home games and opponents are batting .208. It's quite the contrast to his 7.92 ERA, 1.480 WHIP and .314 average-against in six road games.

The Orioles are facing Gaviglio for the first time tonight. Beckham is the only player with previous experience against him and he's hitless in two at-bats.

Bundy has made two starts since coming off the disabled list and allowed 10 earned runs (11 total) and 14 hits in 7 1/3 innings. He faced the Blue Jays on April 9 at Camden Yards and held them to two runs with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Bundy is 3-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.880 WHIP in eight career games (four starts) against the Jays and he's surrendered only one run in 14 1/3 innings at Rogers Centre.

Kevin Pillar is 2-for-12 and Kendrys Morales is 2-for-11 against Bundy.

Bundy and Kevin Gausman are tied for the team lead in quality starts with 10.

Jonathan Schoop is batting .368 (21-for-57) in 15 games this month. He's a career .283 hitter in July, his second-highest monthly average for his career. He's hit .287 in August.

The Orioles have been outscored 79-46 in the first inning and 75-31 in the fifth.