Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays in series opener at Camden Yards

The Orioles are back home tonight and trying to improve their record to 28-13 in series openers.

Anthony Santander is out of the lineup again with lower-back soreness. Ryan McKenna is in right field.

Gunnar Henderson is batting third. Austin Hays is the cleanup hitter.

James McCann is catching, with Adley Rutschman serving as designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle has reached base in 26 consecutive games. He went 11-for-13 against the Blue Jays during a four-game series in Toronto.

Rookie Grayson Rodriguez is making his 17^th start, and his third against the Blue Jays. He’s allowed a combined five runs and seven hits with 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez has allowed eight runs in his last five starts over 30 2/3 innings.

The Orioles lead the second-place Rays by three games and the third-place Jays by 8 ½. Toronto is a game behind the Mariners for the last wild card spot.

The Orioles haven’t lost their last 10 series against division opponents.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is 9-4 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.208 WHIP in 24 starts. He’s allowed one or fewer earned runs in each of his last six outings.

Kikuchi held the Orioles to one run over six innings on Aug. 2. He allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings on May 19 in Toronto and two runs with seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings on June 15 at Camden Yards.

Mountcastle is 7-for-12 with a double and four home runs against Kikuchi, Jorge Mateo is 6-for-15 with a double and triple, and Rutschman is 5-for-14 with two homers. McKenna is 4-for-13 with three doubles.

The Jays have won four of their last six games. They’ve 37-29 on the road, their second-best record in franchise history.

The Orioles were 29-57 against the Jays from 2018 through 2022, losing the season series each year, but are 8-2 in 2023.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Austin Hays LF
Jordan Westburg 2B
James McCann C
Cedric Mullins CF
Ryan McKenna RF
Jorge Mateo SS

Grayson Rodriguez RHP

Jack Flaherty and Dean Kremer are starting the next two games of the series. Toronto is starting Kevin Gausman and José Berríos.