Orioles and Astros lineups (and notes)

The Orioles won last night and remained 2 ½ games back for the last wild card after the Mariners defeated the Guardians in 11 innings.

Gain ground on two teams ahead of them, with the Blue Jays and Rays losing, but also stay planted in the same spot.

Kyle Bradish tossed eight scoreless innings with only two hits allowed, Dillon Tate struck out Trey Mancini to strand two runners in the ninth, and the Astros fell to 42-19 at home.

The Orioles are seven games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2017. They haven’t been eight above since May 21.

Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter tonight. Anthony Santander is playing left field, Ryan McKenna is in center and Austin Hays is in right.

Adley Rutschman is catching.

In back-to-back starts, Dean Kremer has allowed two runs in sevens innings and one run in 5 1/3. He’s surrendered one home run in four August starts.

Kremer has never faced the Astros.

Houston right-hander José Urquidy is 12-4 with a 3.63 ERA and 1.134 WHIP in 23 starts. He averages fewer than two walks per nine innings.

Urquidy has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts, and three or fewer in 11 of 12. Left-handers are batting .205/.251/.343 against him, and right-handers are batting .275/.318/.487.

The Orioles faced Urquidy twice last year and scored one run in 8 1/3 innings. He shut them out over seven innings on June 23, but he lasted only 1 1/3 on June 29 before leaving with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for more than two months.

Mullins hit a leadoff home run.

Mancini is batting seventh and playing left field.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins DH
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Austin Hays RF
Ramón Urías 3B
Ryan McKenna CF
Rougned Odor 2B
Jorge Mateo SS

Dean Kremer RHP

For the Astros
José Altuve 2B
Yuli Gurriel 1B
Yordan Álvarez DH
Alex Bregman 3B
Kyle Tucker RF
Christian Vazquez C
Trey Mancini LF
David Hensley SS
Mauricio Dubón CF

José Urquidy RHP

Infielder Frederick Bencosme has been transferred from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen. Bencosme, 19, batted .336/.410/.432 in 59 games with the Shorebirds, with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 29 RBIs, 27 walks and 31 strikeouts in 250 plate appearances.