Henderson starting at second base tonight

The Orioles can climb nine games above .500 tonight for the first time since May 20, 2017. They’re 1 ½ behind the Blue Jays for third place in the division and for the third spot in the wild card chase.

The latest surge is led by a rotation that posted back-to-back shutouts and registered three during a six-game road trip to Houston and Cleveland. The Orioles allowed nine runs and currently have a scoreless streak of 21 innings.

Last night marked the 13^th shutout of the season. It also produced Brandon Hyde’s 200^th career win, making him the ninth manager in club history to reach the milestone.

Dean Kremer has allowed four runs in his last three starts over 20 innings, with three walks and 13 strikeouts, to lower his ERA to 3.24. He’s never faced the Athletics.

Gunnar Henderson is starting at his third position in three nights, getting the assignment at second base and batting eighth. He’s the first Oriole to collect three hits in his first two major league games since Cedric Mullins in August 2018.

Mullins and Adley Rutschman are on the bench. Ryan Mountcastle is serving as the designated hitter, Jesús Aguilar is playing first base and Ryan McKenna is leading off and playing center field.

Ramón Urías is batting cleanup. Jorge Mateo and Austin Hays return to the lineup.

Pitcher Denyi Reyes, who was designated for assignment to make room for Henderson on the 40-man roster, cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles finally face a left-handed starter, with JP Sears ending a streak of 15 right-handers in a row. Traded from the Yankees to the Athletics on Aug. 1, Sears has made four starts with his new team and allowed six runs and 21 hits in 21 1/3 innings. He was 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 0.864 WHIP in seven appearances (two starts) with New York.

Sears’ second major league appearance came against the Orioles on April 16, and he tossed a scoreless inning with two hits, one walk and one strikeout for his first win. His first start followed on May 25 and he won again, with five scoreless innings and five strikeouts.

The Athletics won three of four games at home against the Orioles in April.  They’re 49-83, the second-worst record in the majors, and buried in last place in their division with a minus-152 run differential.

For the Orioles
Ryan McKenna CF
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Ramón Urías 3B
Jesús Aguilar 1B
Austin Hays LF
Jorge Mateo SS
Gunnar Henderson 2B
Robinson Chirinos C

Dean Kremer RHP

Infielder Adam Hall and outfielder John Rhodes were placed on Double-A Bowie’s injured list.