Lineup options plentiful for Hyde

The choices were laid out again yesterday for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.

A right-handed opposing starting pitcher and a roster with left-handed hitting outfielders Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, along with switch-hitter Anthony Santander. Ryan O’Hearn, also from the left side, capable of playing the corner outfield or first base or resuming his usual role as the designated hitter in this situation.

Kjerstad sat Friday night despite hitting a home run and finishing with three RBIs the previous game. Cowser broke a scoreless tie with his homer in the fourth off future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. Hyde appeared to make the right call – unless Kjerstad would have hit two.

We’ll never know.

Last night’s lineup put Cowser in left field, Mullins in center, Santander in right and Kjerstad as the designated hitter. O’Hearn played first base and Ryan Mountcastle sat until called upon as a pinch-hitter.

It won’t look the same tonight.

It worked well last night, with Kjerstad’s grand slam and Santander’s homer and RBI double powering the Orioles to a 6-5 win.

Hyde had similar challenges with Kyle Stowers on the roster instead of Kjerstad. He sat Mullins in consecutive games, freeing up center field, when the former All-Star was buried deep in a slump. But Mullins has earned more starts by slashing .297/.333/.541 with five doubles, two triples and three home runs this month prior to last night. He had 22 hits 60 at-bats (.367) over 17 games with a plate appearance before going 0-for-3 Friday.

“On time with the fastball, a little bit better rhythm in the box,” Hyde said. “Teams really crowding him. He was getting beat a little bit on fastballs and fastballs up. Saw a couple takes (Thursday) on balls that were borderline up. That’s always a good sign. But just being able to be on time with the fastball and to then get that breaking ball, which he’s gotten and hit out in front the way he has, because he’s earned it, because they can’t just beat him up and with fastballs in.”

There’s also the mental side, of course. It always plays into skids and hot streaks.

“Confidence is one of the biggest things of feeling good at the plate,” Hyde said. “The last couple weeks he’s swung the bat great.”

Mullins won’t jump back into the leadoff spot. That’s Gunnar Henderson’s residency against right-handers. Adley Rutschman has returned to it versus lefties after Jordan Westburg’s brief trial. But the Orioles are more potent if Mullins’ tools, the type that made him the first 30/30 guy in franchise history, are playing near the bottom.

“When he’s swinging the bat well it totally changes your lineup. It lengthens our lineup,” Hyde said.

“The speed-power combination is rare. Him getting on base or being able to hit a homer like he did (Thursday) night, it makes your lineup really, really long.”

Hyde probably has a rough draft of tonight’s lineup and will check whether there’s a health issue that forces a revision. Fans upset that Hyde didn’t play Westburg on Friday while Rutschman was out, as if they can’t be on the bench together without risk of killing the season, didn’t know about the infielder’s sore knee.

Austin Hays is day-to-day with his own knee discomfort – a gash and swelling. The Rangers are starting left-hander Andrew Heaney in the ESPN game, which would put Hays in left field if he’s available.

Santander could stay in right, with James McCann catching, Rutschman serving as the DH and O’Hearn going to the bench. Kjerstad would join O’Hearn among the reserves if the Orioles aren’t playing him every day, but he’s hot.

That leaves center field and perhaps a choice between Mullins and Cowser.

Just another day at The Yard.