Orioles and Rays lineups (plus notes)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles will try again today to win their first series against the Rays at Tropicana Field since 2017.

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup after former Orioles reliever Jimmy Yacabonis drilled him on the left hand yesterday in the ninth inning. Mountcastle swung a bat and played catch this morning, and had the hand wrapped in ice again later.

“It’s sore, swollen, but I’m going to try to work, I guess,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get out there and play, but as of right now it doesn’t really feel great, but try to work it out.

“Hopefully, I can get in there today, but we’ll see. … In the morning it felt about the same as it did right after. Yeah, doesn’t feel great.”

Manager Brandon Hyde said Mountcastle is day-to-day.

Yacabonis’ pitch hit Mountcastle on the side of the hand. He stayed in the game.

“Down six with two outs, (but) it is what it is,” Mountcastle said. “Hopefully, I can get through it.”

Being hit by a friend at least allowed Mountcastle to find some humor in it.

“I almost charged the mound on him,” he quipped. “There was some scuffling going on last game, so it was probably intentional. I’ll have to give him a talking to.”

The Orioles have been hit 67 times this season to lead the American League and rank fourth in the majors.

“I just think in general all around the league, I don’t know what the numbers are, but there’s a lot more hit-by-pitches, at least from the games we’re playing,” Mountcastle said. “Guys are trying to work inside, but it’s more velocity now as opposed to control. Guys are trying to throw hard in and it gets away from them sometimes.”

Tyler Nevin is starting at first base today. Terrin Vavra took ground balls at the position during batting practice, as the Orioles explore other options.

Brett Phillips is the right fielder today. Ramón Urías is the cleanup hitter.

Jordan Lyles was pushed back to today. He’s allowed three earned runs in his last three starts covering 17 2/3 innings.

Lyles has made three starts against Tampa Bay this year and allowed 11 runs and 16 hits with nine walks in 13 1/3 innings.

Reliever Logan Gillaspie was recalled again, this time replacing DL Hall, who was optioned yesterday after making his major league debut. Rico Garcia is on the taxi squad for the trip to Toronto.

The Orioles will have a full squad going into Canada, now that they're fully vaccinated.

Rougned Odor is 6-for-8 in the series and has consecutive multi-hit games for the first time since 2019.

Per the Orioles, Adley Rutschman is the first major league catcher since at least 1900 to record 23 doubles in his first 66 career games.

Left-hander Alexander Wells, on the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation, had his rehab assignment moved today to Double-A Bowie.

Pitcher Ryan Long has been reinstated from Single-A Delmarva’s injured list.

Veteran Matt Harvey starts today for Triple-A Norfolk.

Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen has posted a 2.96 ERA and 1.172 WHIP in 19 starts, with only eight home runs surrendered in 91 1/3 innings. He’s faced the Orioles twice and allowed four earned runs (five total) and nine hits in 8 2/3 innings.

Mountcastle homered on April 9.

Rasmussen retired all nine batters he faced in his last start in Detroit, with the Rays working to limit his innings. He held the Blue Jays to one run in six innings in the previous start.

The Rays are a half-game ahead of the Orioles for third place in the division and for the third wild card spot. The Twins are a half-game behind the Orioles in the wild card chase.

The Orioles and Rays have split 18 games, so today is an important tie-breaker.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Adley Rutschman C
Anthony Santander DH
Ramón Urías 3B
Rougned Odor 2B
Austin Hays LF
Jorge Mateo SS
Tyler Nevin 1B
Brett Phillips RF

Jordan Lyles RHP

For the Rays
Ji-Man Choi 1B
Yandy Díaz 3B
Randy Arozarena DH
David Peralta LF
Francisco Mejía C
Yu Chang 2B
Luke Raley RF
José Siri CF
Taylor Walls SS

Drew Rasmussen RHP

Here are the starters for the series in Toronto:

Monday: Kyle Bradish vs. Yusei Kikuchi
Tuesday: Dean Kremer vs. Alek Manoah
Wednesday: Austin Voth vs. Ross Stripling