Orioles and Nationals lineups (updated)

Rio Ruiz is back in the Orioles lineup tonight as they open a three-game series against the Nationals in D.C.

Ruiz has been on the bench with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Austin Hays drops to ninth in the order while Hanser Alberto continues to lead off. José Iglesias is batting third as the shortstop.

Pedro Severino is catching tonight and Chris Davis is batting eighth again.

Chance Sisco, who isn't in the lineup, has gone 5-for-11 with two doubles, a home run and five walks. He's slashing .455/.647/.909 in 17 plate appearances.

"I like his at-bats lately," manager Brandon Hyde said on his Zoom call after last night's 8-7 loss to the Marlins. "Chance is doing a nice job working the count, being aggressive on pitches he can drive. Takes walks.

"I think that you're starting to see the kind of hitter that he has a chance to be. I like the way that he uses the whole field. ... I like that he's got a selective-aggressive approach and last year I felt like that got away from him the last couple months. Right now it seems like he's locked back in and swinging at strikes and making the pitcher come into his zone, and when they are he's on time.

"I think this is the kind of player and the kind of hitter he can be."

The Orioles are carrying three catchers on the 30-man roster and now have a fourth on their taxi squad for trips to D.C. and Philadelphia. Sisco could move to the front of the line for playing time if he continues to swing a hot bat, though serving as the designated hitter also is an option.

"I know it's a big year for me," he said last night. "But I don't really have to prove it to myself. I know I can play here. It's just about doing it night in and night out. It's about being consistent with it, and that's the work that I put in this offseason, was to be able to do that and be consistent."

Left-hander Tommy Milone broke into the majors with the Nationals in 2011 and rejoined them seven years later. He's made two starts this season and allowed five runs and 10 hits with 13 strikeouts in eight innings.

Milone has made two career starts against the Nationals and allowed one run in 12 1/3 innings. He owns a 5.74 ERA and 1.277 WHIP in six games in D.C.

Howie Kendrick is 12-for-32 (.375) with a double and two home runs against Milone. Starlin Castro is 5-for-8 (.625) with two doubles.

Yan Gomes is 1-for-14 with six strikeouts. Asdrúbal Cabrera is 2-for-17. Adam Eaton is 2-for-14.

The Nationals are starting right-hander Aníbal Sánchez, who allowed four runs and six hits with seven strikeouts in five innings in his first outing against the Blue Jays.

Sánchez has a 7.03 ERA and 1.563 WHIP in six career starts against the Orioles covering 32 innings.

Davis is 4-for-12 with a double and home run against Sánchez.

Washington's bullpen ranks fourth in the majors with a 1.53 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 35 1/3 innings.

Thomas Eshelman is starting Saturday against the Nationals' Austin Voth. Stephen Strasburg makes his 2020 debut on Sunday.

Severino is 7-for-17 in his career as a pinch-hitter. He came off the bench last night and delivered an RBI single in the ninth inning.

The Orioles rank fourth in the American League and ninth in the majors with a .735 OPS.

The Orioles are 5-7 after the Marlins swept them in a four-game series at Camden Yards.

Asked last night how he expects the club to respond, pitcher Wade LeBlanc said, "I expect us to come out tomorrow and be ready to play. That's all you can do. You take these games for what they are. You look at the things you can do better and you move on and try to improve on those the next day and get ready to go when the bell rings."

For the Orioles
Hanser Alberto 2B
Anthony Santander RF
José Iglesias SS
Renato Núñez DH
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Pedro Severino C
Rio Ruiz 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Austin Hays CF

Tommy Milone LHP

For the Nationals
Trea Turner SS
Adam Eaton RF
Starlin Castro 2B
Juan Soto LF
Howie Kendrick 1B
Kurt Suzuki C
Josh Harrison DH
Carter Kieboom 3B
Victor Robles CF

Aníbal Sánchez RHP

Caroline Means shared on Twitter earlier today the news that John's father, Alan, passed away peacefully this week after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57 years old.

"Tuesday evening John's dad, our beloved Alan peacefully passed away," Caroline wrote. "Words cannot express how difficult this time has been. Alan was larger than life and we absolutely adored him. We are comforted that he is with our Lord and Savior."

Update: The Orioles won't add anyone to the taxi squad because they're commuting and their alternate camp is close.