Armstrong transferred from paternity list to injured list (plus notes)

Reliever Shawn Armstrong has been reinstated from the paternity list today. However, he can't rejoin the team until going through the intake process, which has placed him on the injured list.

This is a procedural move, which happened a few times last summer. Another similarity between 2020 and 2021.

The bullpen remains intact while he's on the IL. A corresponding roster move will be made after he's activated.

Manager Brandon Hyde said he was hopeful that Armstrong would be available Monday in New York.

The Orioles are going for the sweep, their first over the Red Sox since 2017. They've allowed only two runs in 18 innings.

"We've pitched really well here," Hyde said via Zoom. "I don't think we pitched great in spring training. I think certain guys had nice camps, but really impressed with how we've thrown strikes the last two games and how we've worked ahead in the count."

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann, the local product making his second career start, is also making his second appearance against the Red Sox.

His finest hours came in Boston with four relief innings on Sept. 23 that resulted in only one run and two hits. He struck out five batters.

Zimmermann's placement as the No. 3 starter breaking camp wasn't done to get him a rematch. It came from his spring production, which included nine scoreless innings until his final outing.

"It was more of what we felt like was giving our team the best to win and going Zim, splitting him and (John) Means up, sandwiching (Matt) Harvey in between them, that was mainly it, to be honest with you," Hyde said.

"It was more having Zim pitching the first series and then splitting him and John up."

Infielder Pat Valaika is out of the lineup again today, but it's only the third game. Nothing really to see here.

Rio Ruiz is making his third start at second base.

"It's matchup-based, and I think against left-handers, you're going to see Pat," Hyde said. "Probably see (Ramón) Urías, also. But I just go on the day and the lineup that gives us the best chance to win. Pat's going to get a lot of playing time, he's going to play multiple positions. He just hasn't cracked the starting lineup here the first three, but you'll see him in there."

Call off the search.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said this morning that Trey Mancini should be the Comeback Player of the Year, no matter what else happens in 2021.

"I know there's other guys that are going to come back from injuries," Cora said, "but to come back from this is amazing."

He won't get an argument from Hyde.

"He would definitely have my vote, there's no doubt about that," Hyde said. "He's handled everything as well as you could possibly handle it and then some. I can't even imagine what he's gone through, that he's had a lot of attention on him this spring training and this season so far and he has handled it like a pro and so mature. He's just so professional and so understanding and appreciative and he walks around like that. He's just appreciative of being here. He gives his time to others. He's just a class act."