Orioles and White Sox lineups and notes

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is breaking out his reverse-splits lineup again tonight with the White Sox starting right-hander Lucas Giolito.

Robinson Chirinos is catching and Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter. Terrin Vavra and Kyle Stowers are on the bench.

Shortstop Jorge Mateo is batting eighth tonight for the 20^th time. He’s batted second once, fifth in three games, sixth in four, seventh in 16 and ninth in 65.

Mateo is slashing .294/.342/.538 with nine doubles, four triples, six home runs, 25 RBIs and 27 runs scored in his last 44 games since July 1, and .317/.355/.574 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored in 29 games since the All-Star break. His .929 OPS in the second half ranks 11^th in the American League.

Hyde could elevate Mateo in certain matchups, but he doesn’t want to mess with a good thing.

“I love what he’s doing where he is right now, in that bottom third area, between seven and nine,” Hyde said. “I just want him to feel comfortable, honestly, and keep doing what he’s doing. He’s getting huge hits for us, and it’s nice to have our lineup that deep, also, to have production at the bottom part of the order. Love what he’s doing at the plate.”

Ryan McKenna batted .183/.292/.266 last summer in 90 games and couldn’t avoid the minor league shuttle. He’s appeared in 82 games this season and batted .258/.309/.375.

“Just matured as a player,” Hyde said. “I think the bounce back and forth is hard. When he could come to the big leagues, too, he wasn’t getting consistent playing time, and he hasn’t had consistent playing time this year. But he is able to figure out how to be a big league platoon bench bat, not everyday guy, whatever you want to call it, and be able to stay ready.

“I think when you’re a young player, you just get to the big leagues, it’s so overwhelming in a lot of ways, and when you’re not playing it’s kind of hard to find a rhythm. And it’s still hard. He’s only in his second year. What he’s doing offensively and defensively and on the bases for us is enormous, and I’m looking to put him in the game. The games he’s not starting, I’m looking to put him in the game, just because I feel he can impact and help us win a game somehow.

“But offensively, for me, it’s just taking better at-bats. That’s just the experience of being in the big leagues for a while now, seeing major league pitching, and not having to shuttle back and forth. It’s really helped his development and he’s been a good player for us this year.”

Hyde didn’t study the 2023 schedule that was released earlier today. Hasn’t wrapped his arms around it.

“I’m still on the 2022 schedule,” he said.

The new collective bargaining agreement reduces the number of division games. Twenty-four fewer next season: six each against the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays.

“I do think it’s more fair,” Hyde said. “We’re still going to play how many games in our division? Thirteen times four, so 52. A third of your schedule is still against American League East teams, which is good. And I think it’s also good to go and be able to see everybody else, too. I think that’s a little bit more fair around the league.

“Play every team in the National League, I think that’s going to be fun. I think it’s going to be great for fans, also, to be able to see any team they want to see wherever they live. I just think it evens things out.”

The Orioles have gone 13-7 in their first 20 games this month. Their .650 winning percentage is tied for first in the league and tied for fourth in the majors.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Adley Rutschman DH
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Austin Hays LF
Ramón Urías 3B
Rougned Odor 2B
Jorge Mateo SS
Robinson Chirinos C

Spenser Watkins RHP

For the White Sox
AJ Pollock LF
Andrew Vaughn 1B
Luis Robert CF
José Abreu DH
Gavin Sheets RF
Yoán Moncada 3B
Elvis Andrus SS
Romy González 2B
Seby Zavala C

Lucas Giolito RHP