Orioles and Red Sox opening day lineups and notes

The Orioles' first lineup of 2021 today includes Rio Ruiz making his first career major league start at second base and Austin Hays playing left field.

Ruiz started at second base in back-to-back exhibition games to close out the Grapefruit League schedule.

Cedric Mullins is leading off and playing center field. Trey Mancini is batting second and playing first base and Anthony Santander is slotted behind him in right field.

Left-hander John Means is making his first opening day start. His major league debut came at Fenway Park in the first game of a Sept. 26, 2018 doubleheader.

Means is 3-2 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.165 WHIP in seven career games (six starts) against the Red Sox.

Ryan Mountcastle is one of eight Orioles on his first opening day roster. His cheering section will include his brother, stepfather, girlfriend and her family.

"I've gone to big league spring training four or five times and gotten sent down every time," he said this morning in a Zoom call. "The first time I get to break with the club, it's definitely a surreal moment and something I'll cherish, for sure."

Mountcastle is the designated hitter this afternoon, but could be moved to left field later in the series.

"I played there a little bit last year, a couple games, and anything over your head is off the Monster, you've got to play it off the wall and it almost feels like you're in the shortstop's back pocket playing out there, just because it's so shallow, too," he said. "I wouldn't say it's too difficult, but it's definitely different."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, reliever César Valdez (36) is the oldest Orioles player to make his first opening day roster in the last 35 years. He debuted in the majors on May 3, 2010.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis homered on back-to-back opening days with the Phillies in 2016-17. Maikel Franco, starting at third base today, homered in 2019 with Philadelphia.

Valdez is the first player since pitcher Nelson Figueroa, who debuted in 2000 and made his first opening day roster in 2011, to have as many seasons between those two career milestones.

Xander Bogaerts is 6-for-14 with a double and two home runs against Means. JD Martinez is 4-for-14 with a double and three home runs.

Bogaerts will be making his eighth consecutive opening day start at shortstop to match Everett Scott's club record from 1914-21.

The teams are meeting on opening day for the 10th time, with the Orioles holding a 6-3 advantage. They're 1-2 in Boston.

The Orioles are 43-24 overall on opening day and 11-11 on the road.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Rio Ruiz 2B
Austin Hays LF
Maikel Franco 3B
Freddy Galvis SS
Pedro Severino C

John Means LHP

For the Red Sox
Enrique Hernández 2B
Alex Verdugo CF
J.D. Martinez DH
Xander Bogaerts SS
Rafael Devers 3B
Hunter Renfroe RF
Marwin Gonzalez LF
Christian Vázquez C
Bobby Dalbec 1B

Nathan Eovaldi RHP