Orioles make roster moves, Hays returns to lineup and Mullins batting eighth

The Orioles recalled reliever Louis Head this afternoon from Triple-A Norfolk to provide a fresh bullpen arm. They optioned Beau Sulser following yesterday’s game.

Head, who’s wearing No. 60, came to the organization as a July 12 waiver claim from the Marlins. He was on the injured list with a left shoulder impingement.

The right-hander made his major league debut with the Rays last summer, and he appeared in 23 games with the Marlins this season, allowing 19 runs and 26 hits with 11 walks and 23 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings.

Head posted a 3.38 ERA in seven games with Norfolk. He allowed three runs and four hits with seven walks and 12 strikeouts in eight innings.

Sulser surrendered Ke’Bryan Hayes’ two-run homer yesterday after he replaced Keegan Akin. He threw 49 pitches in 2 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers claimed infielder Rylan Bannon off outright waivers today, returning him to his original organization. The Orioles have an opening on their 40-man roster.

The Orioles finally host the Blue Jays tonight, the series pushed back in the post-lockout schedule. The teams split four games at Rogers Centre earlier this summer.

They meet 15 more times before reaching the end of the regular season.

The updated standings show the Orioles two games behind for the last wild card, two behind the third-place Rays and four behind the second-place Jays.

Austin Hays has returned to the Orioles’ lineup tonight. Ryan McKenna is in right field and leading off, with Cedric Mullins moved down to eighth in manager Brandon Hyde’s mostly right-handed lineup.

Tyler Nevin is playing third base.

Jordan Lyles has allowed one run in his last two starts over 12 innings. He faced the Blue Jays on June 14 and allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Matt Chapman hit a two-run homer.

Lyles has made five career appearances (four starts) against the Jays and registered a 7.54 ERA and 1.897 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings.

Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi has a 4.86 ERA and 1.473 WHIP in 18 starts. He’s averaging 5.2 walks and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Orioles saw Kikucki on June 14 and he allowed four runs with four walks and four strikeouts in four innings. Hays and Ryan Mountcastle hit home runs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 9-for-17 with a double and two home runs in the series at Rogers Centre, and he’s a lifetime .352/.399/.683 hitter with 12 doubles, 18 home runs and 46 RBIs in 49 games against the Orioles.

Guerrero brings a career-high 18-game hitting streak to Camden Yards.

Toronto is 34-21 at home and 26-27 on the road.

For the Orioles
Ryan McKenna RF
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Ramón Urías 2B
Austin Hays LF
Jorge Mateo SS
Cedric Mullins CF
Tyler Nevin 3B

Jordan Lyles RHP

Baseball America’s latest Top 100 prospects list places Triple-A Norfolk shortstop Gunnar Henderson at No. 1. In the same season that catcher Adley Rutschman, from the same 2019 draft class, held the spot.

Henderson, 21, is batting a combined .304/.429/.556 with 20 doubles, six triples, 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, 69 walks and 86 strikeouts in 413 plate appearances between Norfolk and Double-A Bowie. He’s also stolen 16 bases in 19 attempts.

The second-round draft pick began the year ranked No. 57 by Baseball America. He represented the Orioles in the All-Star Futures Game.

Grayson Rodriguez is No. 4, Jackson Holliday is No. 41, DL Hall is No. 61, Colton Cowser is No. 97 and Jordan Westburg is No. 98.

Rodriguez is the top-rated pitcher.

Left-hander Cade Povich, acquired from the Twins in the Jorge López trade, was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week after tossing six scoreless innings with one hit allowed in his debut with high Single-A Aberdeen. He walked none and struck out eight.

The Dodgers signed former Orioles infielder Jahmai Jones to a minor league contract. Jones is recovering from Tommy John surgery.