Santander making trip to D.C.

The Orioles lineup for Friday night's game against the Nationals in D.C. is going to include outfielder Anthony Santander.

Santander is done with the protocol process and ready to appear in his first game since April 20, when he sprained his left ankle in Miami. He's batting .196/.230/.321 with a double, two home runs, two walks and 17 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances.

"He's been a big part of our offense the last few years," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom call. "He's a guy that lengthens out the lineup. He's a switch-hitter that can handle left- and right-handers. He's a really good hitter, can leave the ballpark. Good defender. So can't wait to get him back in.

"Great to see him today and he'll be in the middle of the order tomorrow."

Reliever Dillon Tate, on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring, is close to getting back on a mound and going on a rehab assignment.

"He's going to pitch in a couple games, probably, first before he gets back here, so looking week, two weeks there," Hyde said.

Rule 5 pick Mac Sceroler is facing hitters in Sarasota, Fla. and working multiple innings. He's on the IL with right shoulder tendinitis.

"He should be ready fairly soon, too," Hyde said.

Today's announcement that the Orioles are lifting crowd capacity restrictions beginning June 1 naturally is met with excitement inside the team's clubhouse. Anything to move past the weirdness of 2020 and early 2021.

To have the world more recognizable.

"That's great news for everybody," Hyde said. "It does means that we're slowly and surely getting back to normal, which is a great feeling. Excited to see more fans in the ballpark."