Orioles and Astros lineups (with more notes)

The latest Orioles lineup combination tonight has Ryan McKenna batting fifth and playing left field, with Austin Hays in right field and Anthony Santander serving as the designated hitter.

Domingo Leyba is playing second base and Maikel Franco returns to the lineup at third.

Austin Wynns is catching.

Meanwhile, with a marathon win last night, the Orioles summoned right-hander Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk and put him on the taxi squad. A fresh arm is close.

Greene would become the 11th Oriole to make his major league debut this season and the 45th player used if he's placed on the active roster and gets into a game. A corresponding 40-man roster move would be required.

The Tides were off last night and have a game tonight in Charlotte.

Signed to a minor league deal in December, Greene has gone 1-2 with a 6.67 ERA and 1.852 WHIP in eight games with Norfolk, including three starts. He's allowed 36 hits, walked 14 batters and struck out 28 in 27 innings.

Greene has a 4.31 ERA and 1.482 WHIP in eight minor league seasons since the Blue Jays drafted him in the seventh round in 2013 out of Santa Monica High School. They included him in the Randal Grichuk trade with the Cardinals in January 2018.

The Orioles could try to get some length out of Greene if they select his contract. He threw four innings Saturday night in his last appearance, held Jacksonville to one run in seven innings on May 21 and shut them out over five innings on June 11.

Six relievers were used last night in a 9-7 win over the Astros, and Travis Lakins Sr. is starting tonight for the first time in two years.

An official announcement was made this afternoon on Trey Mancini's selection to participate in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.

"When you're asked to compete in the Home Run Derby, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so it's something that I jumped on and of course I want to do it," Mancini - who is not in tonight's lineup - said today on a Zoom call. "It brings in a huge audience who might not know who I am or my story that much. The biggest reason I wanted to do it was to show people that there's life after a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy."

Mancini said Notre Dame pitching coach Chuck Ristano will throw to him, duplicating what they did in 2012 in the Big East Home Run Derby.

"We jokingly have said after that, after I won, that if I was ever in the real Home Run Derby, I made a promise to him that he could throw to me in it, so keeping that promise," Mancini said.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander DH
Ryan McKenna LF
Domingo Leyba 2B
Ramón Urías SS
Maikel Franco 3B
Austin Wynns C

Travis Lakins Sr. RHP

For the Astros
Jose Altuve 2B
Michael Brantley DH
Yuli Gurriel 1B
Yordan Alvarez LF
Carlos Correa SS
Kyle Tucker RF
Abraham Toro 3B
Myles Straw CF
Martin Maldonado C

José Urquidy RHP

Update: Greene is joined on the taxi squad by pitchers Isaac Mattson and Spenser Watkins and catcher Nick Ciuffo.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Alexander Wells could also pitch tonight behind Lakins.

"We're down a stater and we're in the midst of a long run here of games in a row," Hyde said on his Zoom call. "Lake gave us four innings a few days ago. Hoping that he can give us multiple innings, and Alex Wells is definitely a length option out of the 'pen. Tried to stay away from (Adam) Plutko last night because he's another a length option. That might have cut his outing today a little shorter having to use him. That was the last pitcher last night.

"We'll just try to piece it together. This is not an ideal situation today, a spot starter and a taxed bullpen, but we're going to do the best we can."
Hyde said there isn't a strict innings or pitch limit on Lakins.

"I'm not going to take him too far,' Hyde said, "but I'd like for him to go as far as he can go because we need the innings.

"If he can be efficient with his pitches tonight against a really good lineup, I'll run him out there as long as I can."

Hyde said Urías and Pat Valaika will get most of the starts at shortstop, with Leyba moving around the infield.

Mancini is getting a rest day.

"What he's done so far this year has been beyond unbelievable," Hyde said. "Missing a full year, in chemotherapy this time last year, playing almost every single game up to this point. We're now in late June, we're almost halfway through and it's just to give him an extra day of rest."

A video surfaced on social media last night of reliever Hunter Harvey having a substance applied under his right arm while he stood in the bullpen. The league apparently contacted the Orioles.

Hyde confirmed that it was Icy Hot, a pain-relieving medication. Not to gain an advantage throwing a baseball.

"We're under a microscope and need to be aware there's cameras everywhere," Hyde said. "Hunter has used Icy Hot underneath his throwing arm and his armpit for nine years now and it's just part of his ... a lot of pitchers, part of what they do. It wasn't applying to the ball or anything like that."

Told on his Zoom call that it seems like an uncomfortable spot for it, Hyde quipped, "I think Icy Hot can be uncomfortable in a lot of places."