Orioles lineup missing Rutschman, Henderson batting third

The Orioles activated new starter Zach Eflin and assigned him uniform No. 24. Eflin threw yesterday and is a candidate to start one of the games in Monday’s doubleheader.

Reliever Bryan Baker was optioned after yesterday’s game.

The Orioles will try to avoid a sweep this afternoon with Colton Cowser leading off and playing left field. Gunnar Henderson is batting third. Henderson has committed an error in three consecutive games.

Cedric Mullins is in center field again after his two-run double and two-run homer yesterday. His 430-foot shot was the third-longest of his career.

Adley Rutschman is on the bench. He’s 9-for-68 (.132) this month.

Albert Suárez needs to bounce back from his two-plus-inning start in Miami, where he was charged with six runs and eight hits. He’s fighting to hold onto his spot in the rotation, which could disappear if the Orioles trade for another starter.

Suárez has allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in his last two appearances spanning seven innings. He owns a 2.87 ERA in five career games against the Padres, with five runs in 15 2/3 innings.

Xander Bogaerts is 2-for-5 against Suárez.

The Orioles are 8-12 this month and lead the Yankees by one game. They’ve lost 10 of their last 14 games and 12 of 18.

Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez has made 14 starts in his second major league season and posted a 4.17 ERA and 1.493 WHIP in 69 innings. He’s averaging only 5.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Vásquez is on a nice roll. He shut out the Nationals over six innings in his last start and has allowed five runs in his last five appearances totaling 26 1/3 innings.

The Orioles faced Vásquez last season in San Diego and he tossed five scoreless innings.

The Padres have won seven games in a row.

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser LF
Anthony Santander RF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Cedric Mullins CF
Connor Norby 2B
James McCann C

Albert Suárez RHP