Orioles and Mets lineups at Camden Yards (plus notes)

The Orioles are back home for a weekend series against the Mets, followed by three games against the Astros.

Ryan Mountcastle, who went 11-for-13 with four doubles and six RBIs in Toronto, is batting second and playing first base. He tied the club record for hits in a series of four games or fewer. Merv Rettenmund went 11-for-18 when the Orioles swept Cleveland in a four-game series in September 1971.

In 18 games since returning from vertigo, Mountcastle has gone 23-for-50 (.460) with a 1.220 OPS, seven doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.

Adley Rutschman is leading off and serving as designated hitter. Gunnar Henderson is batting third and playing shortstop.

Ryan O’Hearn stays in right field. Jordan Westburg is the second baseman. Ryan McKenna starts in center field.

Adam Frazier is on the bench tonight. He’s batting .346 (9-for-26) in his last 10 games with three doubles, five RBIs, five runs scored and a .934 OPS.

Dean Kremer is 10-4 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.337 WHIP in 22 starts. He held the Phillies to one run in seven innings on July 24 and lasted only four innings against the Yankees in his last start, allowing three runs and seven hits with seven strikeouts.

The Orioles are 67-42, including 18-7 in their last 25 games, and are 24-11 in series openers. They hold a two-game lead over the second-place Rays.

The Orioles also have the best record in the majors when taking a lead, going 67-18 for a .788 winning percentage, per STATS. The Rays are second at 66-19 (.776).

The Mets are 50-58 and in fourth place in the National League East, 20 games behind the Braves. They’re 24-35 on the road.

They’ve allowed the first run in 65 games, tied for most in the majors, and gone 19-46, per STATS.

Huge spenders over the winter, the Mets slipped into seller mode at the deadline and parted with veteran starters Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. This isn’t how manager Buck Showalter envisioned his return to Baltimore.

The Orioles are facing their third left-hander in four games, David Peterson, who’s 3-7 with a 5.92 ERA and 1.620 WHIP in 17 games (11 starts). He’s struck out 68 batters in 62 1/3 innings.

Peterson, the 20^th-overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Oregon, hasn’t started since July 8. His last six appearances have come out of the bullpen.

Peterson has made two career appearances against the Orioles, including one start, and allowed four runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

One more on Peterson: He’s allowed at least three earned runs without going more than six innings in six consecutive road starts, the longest active streak in baseball, according to STATS.

The Mets are 9-3-6 in 18 series against the Orioles, winning or tying the last five at Camden Yards. The Orioles last series win at home came in 2009.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Austin Hays LF
Ryan O’Hearn RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Ramón Urías 3B
James McCann C
Ryan McKenna CF

Dean Kremer RHP

First-round pick Enrique Bradfield Jr. made his professional debut today in the Florida Complex League and went 2-for-2 with a walk, stolen base and two runs scored. He led off and played center field.

Shortstop Jalen Vasquez, chosen in the 20^th round, also debuted and went 1-for-2.

Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Trey McGough, on an injury rehab assignment in the FCL, started and tossed two scoreless innings with one hit, two walks and four strikeouts.

For the Mets
Brandon Nimmo CF
Francisco Alvarez C
Francisco Lindor SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Jeff McNeil 2B
Starling Marte RF
Brett Baty 3B
Mark Vientos DH
Rafael Ortega LF

David Peterson LHP