O's add Nick Maton to roster ahead of CWS series opener (plus lineups and pregame notes)

The Orioles' roster churn continued today in advance of the homestand opener against the Chicago White Sox.

The club selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Maton from Triple-A Norfolk and designated catcher David Bañuelos for assignment.

The Orioles acquired Maton, 27, from the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 7 for cash considerations. He has spent most of this season with Triple-A Norfolk but got into one O's game on June 20 at Yankee Stadium without an at-bat.

His wild ride this year saw the club designate him for assignment on March 26 and outright him to the minors five days later. On June 19 he was called up from the farm, but was DFAd on June 24 and outrighted back to Norfolk two days later. Now he is back on the Baltimore active roster.

He has played 180 career big league games between Philadelphia and Detroit and the one game with the Orioles this year. He was with the Phillies for parts of 2021 and 2022 and played in 93 games with Detroit last year.

He is a career .208/.306/.361/.666 hitter in the majors with 15 homers and 63 RBIs over 509 plate appearances.

This season at Triple-A he hit .261/.368/.477/.845 with 16 homers and 56 RBIs for the Tides. 

Bañuelos had his contract selected for Sunday's game at Colorado for his second stint on the major league roster this year. He made his debut April 16 versus Minnesota and flied out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning in his only career at-bat. In 22 games with Norfolk, he has hit .225/.360/.352/.713 with three doubles, two homers, 11 RBIs, 13 walks, and a stolen base. He has spent a lot of time this season on the O's taxi squad. 

The Orioles (79-59) completed a 3-3 road trip Sunday and host the White Sox (31-107) for the next three games. They are 1/2-game behind the Yankees for the American League East lead.

Chicago, with the worst record in the majors, has lost 10 in a row and is 4-40 its last 44 games. The Orioles swept a four-game series at Chicago in late May.

For the Orioles

SS Gunnar Henderson
C Adley Rutschman
1B Ryan O'Hearn
DH Anthony Santander
LF Colton Cowser
CF Cedric Mullins
RF Austin Slater
2B Jackson Holliday
3B Emmanuel Rivera

RHP Corbin Burnes

For the White Sox

2B Nicky Lopez
DH Corey Julks
LF Andrew Benintendi
1B Gavin Sheets
C Korey Lee
RF Zach DeLoach
CF Dominic Fletcher
3B Miguel Vargas
SS Jacob Amaya

RHP Chris Flexen 

Burnes (12-7, 3.23 ERA) is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and .827 OPS allowed his past five starts.

Flexen (2-13, 5.29 ERA) is tied for the major league lead in losses. The team is 2-24 in his starts this season, losing the last 20.

The Orioles, who are 39-30 at home, play the next six at Oriole Park. Tampa Bay comes to town for three games beginning Friday. 

Hyde pregame notes: Before today's game Brandon Hyde said there is not much new yet on pitcher Dean Kremer, knocked out of the game early Saturday when he took a shot off his right arm.

“No. He’s still swollen. If some of the swelling gets out, he may try to play catch tomorrow. But it’s pretty sore," Hyde said.

Ryan Mountcastle is eligible to come off the injured list on Friday. He's been dealing with a left wrist sprain. He feels better today but still hasn't swung a bat yet.

Asked today which of the IL players could return next he named reliever Jacob Webb, who pitched a scoreless inning at Triple-A last night and will likely have at least one more game there.

"Webb, it went well last night, sounds like," he said. "Sounds like he feels good today, and that is a positive step. I have no idea about Mounty, but a week ago I probably would have said Mounty. The other guys are kind of all mid-to-late September."

As Hyde noted today, the Orioles hope to get some key players back this month, but how will they be playing after extended time away?

"It's going to be a real sprint for those guys that get back," said Hyde.

Hyde today was asked about the struggles of Adley Rutschman. He said Rutschman is not facing any physical challenges that would affect his play.

But Rutschman is 7-for-47 (.149) his last 12 games with an OPS of .460. He posted a .482 OPS in July and .625 in August.

"It's been a tough couple of months," Hyde said. "You know, he's grinding. He is such a huge part of our offense, and he knows that. He is probably putting way too much pressure on himself also. I think that is why you see the swing decisions are sometimes not Adley-like. Because he is trying to get back to who he is."