Orioles lineup and challenges vs. knuckleballer

BOSTON - A team that's tied for the fewest runs scored in the majors through six games must solve a knuckleball pitcher tonight. Because it isn't supposed to be easy and no one on the other side offers an ounce of sympathy.

The Orioles have totaled 21 runs, equaling the Royals' output, and their .215 average ranks 25th. Now comes the complication provided by Steven Wright.

Wright is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.045 WHIP in four career games (two starts) against the Orioles. The current group is 8-for-62 (.129) against him.

Adam Jones is 2-for-9 with a home run. Mark Trumbo is 2-for-6.

Ubaldo Jiménez allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in his 2017 debut against the Yankees. He's 2-6 with a 6.82 ERA and 1.762 WHIP in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Red Sox and 1-3 with a 6.09 ERA and 1.824 WHIP in seven starts at Fenway Park.

Pablo Sandoval is 14-for-39 (.359) with two doubles, a triple and two home runs against Jiménez. Dustin Pedroia is 11-for-34 (.324) with two doubles, Xander Bogaerts is 7-for-20 (.350) with a double and Mookie Betts is 9-for-19 (.474) with a double.

Chris Young is 8-for-47 (.170) with three doubles and 18 strikeouts.

Jones' 164 career hits against the Red Sox are tied with Evan Longoria for the fourth-most after Robinson Cano (216), Ichiro Suzuki (167) and Nick Markakis (166).

Jones is playing in his 1,328th game as an Oriole tonight, passing Brian Roberts for sole possession of 11th place on the all-time list.

Chris Davis has a seven-game hitting streak dating back to last season. He's 7-for-21 (.333) with a double, home run and nine strikeouts this year.

Welington Castillo is 6-for-17 (.353) with a double and Seth Smith, who returns to right field tonight, is 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles and a home run. However, Jonathan Schoop and J.J. Hardy are 2-for-19 (.105), and Hardy has struck out seven times.

Manager Buck Showalter is giving Trey Mancini the start in left field, the rookie's first against a right-hander. Hyun Soo Kim is on the bench.

For the Orioles
Seth Smith RF
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Mark Trumbo DH
Welington Castillo C
Trey Mancini LF
Jonathan Schoop 2B
J.J. Hardy SS

Ubaldo Jiménez RHP

The Orioles released left-hander Brian Moran, nephew of former outfielder B.J. Surhoff, according to Baseball America's transactions page. They signed right-hander Shairon Martis, who pitched for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic and spent the past two seasons in the independent American Association.

Martis went 6-6 with a 5.33 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) with the Nationals from 2008-2009. He returned to the majors with the Twins in 2013, making six relief appearances.

Single-A Delmarva first baseman Preston Palmeiro, Rafael's youngest son, hit his first professional home run today - a grand slam in the first inning against Greensboro.

Single-A Frederick left-hander Keegan Akin, last year's second-round pick, struck out 10 batters today and walked none in five innings. He allowed three runs and 10 hits.

In his first start, Akin surrendered six runs and four hits and walked three batters in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.