Holliday and McCann in today's Orioles lineup

The Orioles recalled Jackson Holliday this morning and he’s starting at second base to close out the series against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Left-hander Gregory Soto was activated and is wearing No. 65. Catcher Blake Hunt and infielder Terrin Vavra were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Hunt is on the taxi squad.

Also, right-hander Levin Stoudt cleared waivers and was outrighted to Double-A Bowie.

Another slow day for the Orioles.

Holliday took ground balls at second this morning. He’s batting eighth.

Being optioned to Norfolk after 10 games “was obviously sad,” he said, “but I got to go down there and make some adjustments and improve a little bit and set myself up for the second time around.

“I feel like I’m definitely more prepared than I was last time.”

James McCann took batting practice while wearing a protective mask, and he’s catching today.

“The swelling’s actually gone down quite a bit compared to when it first happened,” he said. “Multiple nasal fractures and at the end of the day I’m just thankful it wasn’t more than that because it could have been really, really bad.”

Grayson Rodriguez makes his 20^th start today and seeks his 13^th win. He has a career 3.47 ERA in four starts versus the Blue Jays after holding them to one earned run (two total) in 6 2/3 innings on June 3 at Rogers Centre.

George Springer is 4-for-10 with a home run against Rodriguez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 4-for-11 with a homer.

The Blue Jays traded left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros, which left today’s start to right-hander Paolo Espino. He’s made two relief appearances and allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. His last start was in 2022 with the Nationals.

Espino hasn’t pitched for Toronto since April 12. He’s made two career appearances against the Orioles, including one start, and allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings. His most recent outing against them came on Sept. 14, 2022 in D.C., when he surrendered a run and three hits in the eighth inning.

The start goes back to July 25, 2021 at Camden Yards, where he allowed three runs in five innings. So long ago that Trey Mancini, Maikel Franco and Ryan McKenna homered.

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser LF
Anthony Santander RF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Cedric Mullins CF
Jordan Westburg 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
James McCann C

Grayson Rodriguez RHP