Mullins back in lineup for O's-Dodgers series opener

LOS ANGELES – Center fielder Cedric Mullins is back in the Orioles lineup tonight as they begin their road trip against the Dodgers.

Mullins left Friday's game early with left quad tightness and missed the last two games of the Houston series. He took batting practice before Sunday's game and will make the start tonight.

Ryan O'Hearn, who has not homered since July 20, gets the start at first base after Ryan Mountcastle went on the injured list Monday with a left wrist sprain.

With 30 games left in their regular season, the Orioles have three road trips remaining, the first beginning with their series-opener tonight at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (78-53) have the best record in the major leagues and are 12-4 in their past 16 games. 

Los Angeles took two of three against Tampa Bay over the weekend and have not lost a series since Aug. 5-7 against Philadelphia (4-0-1 series record since). The Dodgers own the third-best record in the majors this month (15-7, .682) behind two division rivals (Diamondbacks, 17-5; Padres, 16-7).

The Orioles and Dodgers have split their last 12 meetings dating back to 2013 with every game being decided by multiple runs. This is the O's first trip to Dodger Stadium since they took two of three July 4-6, 2016, winning the third game of that series 6-4 in 14 innings on Jonathan Schoop's two-run double in the 14th.

Baltimore split a four-game set with Houston, tallying 15 hits in the two wins and just five hits in the two losses. The Orioles are 38-8 (.826) when having 10 or more hits this season, fifth best in the majors.

Lefty Cole Irvin (6-5, 4.82 ERA) will make his 16th start tonight. He allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings Wednesday versus the Mets. In two career games against the Dodgers, he is 0-0 with a 4.70 ERA, allowing four runs over 7 2/3 innings. 

The Dodgers are 29-13 (.690) when facing a left-handed starter this season, second best in the majors (Guardians – 27-11, .711).

Right-hander Jack Flaherty (10-5, 3.00 ERA), who made nine appearances with the O's in 2023, will face the Orioles for the first time in his career. Flaherty is 3-0 with an ERA of 3.22 in four games since the Dodgers traded with the Tigers to get him. 

For the Orioles

LF Colton Cowser
C Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
RF Anthony Santander
1B Ryan O'Hearn
DH Eloy Jiménez
CF Cedric Mullins
2B Jackson Holliday
3B Ramón Urías

LHP Cole Irvin

For the Dodgers

DH Shohei Ohtani
RF Mookie Betts
LF Teoscar Hernández
C Will Smith
CF Tommy Edman
SS Miguel Rojas
3B Max Muncy
1B Kiké Hernández
2B Chris Taylor

RHP Jack Flaherty