Orioles and Rangers lineups for Game 2 of ALDS (plus notes)

A rookie will try to pull the Orioles away from the brink of elimination in the American League Division Series.

Following their Game 1 loss to the Rangers, the Orioles are starting right-hander Grayson Rodriguez this afternoon at chilly Camden Yards. Rodriguez made his first major league appearance in Arlington on April 5, allowing two runs in five innings. He also made his last against the Rangers before being optioned, surrendering eight earned runs and nine total in 3 1/3 innings on May 26 in Baltimore.

“You know, that feels like it was a year ago, honestly,” he said yesterday of his debut. “But, you know, just kind of learning how to be a pitcher in the big leagues, how to go about each and every day, I think is the big thing.”

So is starting again against your hometown team.

“Watched them a lot as a kid, a lot of Rangers and Astros games,” he said. “Just being able to face a team like that is pretty special to me. It's something I've been dreaming of for a while.”

Robbie Grossman, Corey Seager and Leody Taveras have homered off Rodriguez this year.

Jorge Mateo is in the lineup at shortstop after spending most of Game 1 on the bench. Gunnar Henderson is at third base.

Adley Rutschman is leading off, with Henderson batting cleanup. Ryan Mountcastle is second.

Manager Brandon Hyde said he’ll announce his Game 3 starter on Monday.

The Rangers are starting their second left-hander of the series, Jordan Montgomery, who has posted a 2.79 ERA and 1.094 WHIP in 11 starts since arriving on July 30. Over his last four starts in the regular season, he allowed only two runs in 27 innings.

Then came the wild card round against the Rays, when he tossed seven shutout innings at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles have seen Montgomery 16 times. He’s registered a 3.04 ERA in 83 innings.

Austin Hays is 4-for-22 with a double and home run. Anthony Santander is 5-for-15 with two doubles and a home run.

Montgomery is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA in his last 14 starts against the Orioles.

Four other pitchers have gone unbeaten in at least 14 consecutive starts versus the Orioles, per STATS: Jon Lester (20, 2006-12), Jamie Moyer (19, 1989-2003), Early Wynn (17, 1954-57) and Don Larsen (15, 1955-59).

“This is a totally new team than when I was facing,” Montgomery said yesterday. “A bunch of good players. They've always been a good team. Always had a good lineup and I'm excited to face them again.

“They've got a lot of new faces. Mountcastle was just coming up, and I think everyone knew he was going to be a stud. And then they got Henderson and Adley, and Cedric (Mullins) has been great. And up and down their lineup, a lot of talent. And their starters have been great. Just altogether a really good team.”

Asked about the left field wall, the former Yankee said, “I remember Gleyber Torres hit, like, 18 home runs here. I think he might have been the reason they moved it back.”

The Rangers won yesterday despite striking out 16 times, tying the record for most strikeouts by a team in a nine-inning postseason win, per STATS. The Yankees did it in a 5-2 victory in Game 5 of their 2017 Division Series against Cleveland.

In postseason history, the Game 1 winner in a best-of-five series has advanced 70.9 percent of the time (105-43).

Former shortstop J.J. Hardy is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Hardy scored the go-ahead run on the “Delmon Double” in Game 2 of the 2014 Division Series.

Gates open at 1:30 p.m.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander DH
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Austin Hays LF
Aaron Hicks RF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Cedric Mullins CF
Jorge Mateo SS

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

For the Rangers
Marcus Semien 2B
Corey Seager SS
Mitch Garver DH
Adolis García RF
Evan Carter LF
Jonah Heim C
Nathaniel Lowe 1B
Josh Jung 3B
Leody Taveras CF

Jordan Montgomery LHP