Povich starts and Mountcastle sits

Ryan Mountcastle is out of the Orioles lineup tonight after leaving last night’s game in the ninth inning with wrist soreness.

Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base and Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter and batting second.

The Orioles began the day 1 ½ games behind the Yankees in the division race and they’re counting on rookie Cade Povich, making his 10^th major league start, to give them length before turning to the bullpen.

Povich lowered his ERA to 5.77 by holding the Red Sox to two runs over a career-high 6 1/3 innings in his last start. He was optioned later that night but returned with Zach Eflin on the injured list.

Left-hander Keegan Akin was reinstated from the paternity list and the Orioles optioned lefty Nick Vespi, who tossed a scoreless inning last night.

The Orioles are 1-10 when recording three hits or fewer, their total in three of the last five games. They’re batting .167/.245/.323/.568 in their last six and are 2-for-27 with runners in scoring position.

That’s one reason why they’ve lost seven of their last 11.

Houston right-hander Hunter Brown is 11-7 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.340 WHIP in 25 games (24 starts), and he’s averaging 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s allowed only four runs this month in 18 1/3 innings.

Right-handed batters are hitting .293 with a .762 OPS and left-handers are hitting .221 with a .656 OPS. He’s posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.200 WHIP in 12 home starts and a 4.23 ERA and 1.485 WHIP in 13 road games.

Brown has made three career appearances (two starts) against the Orioles and gone 0-2 with an 8.76 ERA and 1.541 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings. He pitched at Camden Yards on Aug. 10, 2023 and allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings. They met again on Sept. 19 in Houston and he surrendered seven runs and six hits in 5 1/3.

O’Hearn is 3-for-6 with a double and home run against Brown.

Brown’s 11 wins since May 17 lead the majors. Teammate Framber Valdez and the Tigers/Dodgers' Jack Flaherty are next with 10. Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez have nine.

Jose Altuve has the highest batting average all-time at Camden Yards with a minimum 100 at-bats at .403, also according to STATS. Joey Wendle is next at .381, followed by Bo Bichette at .378, Brock Holt at .369 and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at .363.

The Orioles were 36-19 entering June and have gone 38-36. The Astros were 25-33 and have gone 44-25.

Houston has allowed 367 runs after the second inning this season, fewest in the majors per STATS.

The Astros have won four of their last six games, 12 of 15 and 14 of 20. Their road winning streak has reached nine games.

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser LF
Adley Rutschman DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
James McCann C

Cade Povich LHP