Mateo at shortstop tonight, Norby missing from reserves (update: Coulombe to IL)

Jorge Mateo is reinstated from the concussion injured list and playing shortstop tonight. Connor Norby isn’t listed among the reserves on the lineup card posted by the Braves, so he’s apparently optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Gunnar Henderson isn’t in the lineup for the first time this season, as the Orioles begin their three-game series against the Braves at Camden Yards.

Henderson’s next game will be his 250^th. His 53 home runs in that span would be the most in club history, ahead of Ryan Mountcastle’s 52 and Jay Gibbons’ and Jim Gentile’s 50, per STATS. Gentile’s total came in 234 games.

A stolen base would give Henderson 20 in his first 250 games, making him the eighth player in major league history to go 50/20 in that span.

Jordan Westburg is leading off. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter.

Colton Cowser is in center field and Austin Hays is in left, returning to the lineup after receiving treatment for bruised ribs and back tightness.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman.

Cowser slashed .303/.372/.632 with seven doubles, six home runs, 18 RBIs, nine walks and 28 strikeouts in his first 28 games. He batted .188/.305/.275 with four doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, 11 walks and 25 strikeouts in 25 games in May, and is 5-for-28 (.179) this month with one double, one triple, no home runs, two RBIs, two walks and 11 strikeouts.

Albert Suárez is making his seventh start and 14^th appearance, and he brings a 1.83 ERA and 1.017 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings. He made two starts against the Braves in 2016 and allowed six runs in 9 1/3 innings.

The Orioles have won 14 of 18 games and are 43-22. They still trail the first-place Yankees by 2 ½ games.

Their .662 winning percentage is tied for third in club history through the first 65 games, according to STATS. The 1969 Orioles were 47-18 (.723) and the 1997 team was 45-20 (.692). The plus-104 run differential is tied for second behind the 1969 Orioles’ plus-147. The 1966 world champions also had a plus-104 run differential.

After facing three consecutive right-handers in St. Petersburg, Fla., the Orioles are confronted tonight by left-hander Max Fried, who’s 6-2 with a 2.93 ERA, 1.018 WHIP and two complete games among 12 starts. He’s surrendered only five home runs in 73 2/3 innings.

Fried has allowed six earned runs in his last five starts covering 35 1/3 innings. Right-handers are batting .144/.217/.183 against him and left-handers are slashing .387/.441/.565 (24-for-62).

Fried has started twice against the Orioles and allowed five earned runs (seven total) in 15 innings. He tossed a four-hit shutout on Aug. 20, 2021 in Baltimore.

Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander have homered off him. James McCann is 0-for-12.

The Orioles are 13-5 against left-handers, second only to the Guardians’ 13-4 record, per STATS. Baltimore’s 5.33 runs per game against southpaws ranks third.

The Braves have lost three in a row and are 35-28 in the National League East. They trail the first-place Phillies by nine games.

The teams met in Atlanta last year and the Braves won two of three. They’ve gone 12-9 against the Orioles at Camden Yards.

This is the first time that the Orioles are facing the Braves while at least 15 games above .500 since June 15, 1997, per STATS.

The Orioles rank third in the majors with a 3.15 ERA and the Braves are eighth at 3.68.

The Braves were 30-19 with Ronald Acuña Jr. in the lineup and averaging 4.71 runs per game. They are 5-9 without him and averaging 3.43.

Marcell Ozuna leads the National League with 18 home runs and 55 RBIs.

For the Orioles

Jordan Westburg 2B
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Austin Hays LF
Jorge Mateo SS
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C
Colton Cowser CF

Albert Suárez RHP

For the Braves

Michael Harris II CF
Ozzie Albies 2B
Austin Riley 3B
Matt Olson 1B
Marcell Ozuna DH
Adam Duvall RF
Jarred Kelenic LF
Sean Murphy C
Orlando Arcia SS

Max Fried LHP

Update: The Orioles have confirmed that they've optioned Norby. They also announced that they've put lefty reliever Danny Coulombe on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 9, with elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Bryan Baker from Norfolk.