This, that and the other

Coby Mayo started at third base Sunday afternoon in Denver after rejoining the Orioles on their expanded roster and he lined a single the opposite way for his second major league hit. He also scored his third run. He seemed comfortable in the box and in the field.

The Rockies started left-hander Ty Blach. The Orioles placed Ramón Urías on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right ankle. Mayo was pretty much a lock to be in the lineup.

Yesterday’s series opener against the White Sox offered a different story. Mayo sat while right-handed hitter Emmanuel Rivera played third base against right-hander Chris Flexen. Mayo didn't make an appearance in the blowout win.

I saw theories floated that Mayo could work in a platoon with left-handed hitting Nick Maton, who had his contract selected yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk, but they shared bench space yesterday. First base presents an option for Mayo with Ryan Mountcastle on the injured list due to a sprained left wrist, and he’s made 21 starts with the Tides.

The Orioles might be hesitant to transfer that experiment to the majors, but it isn’t clear what they plan to do with him.

Also of interest is whether the Orioles will work out Mayo in right field in spring training. The idea was tossed around last winter but they wanted to focus his development at his natural position.

Getting back Urías and Jordan Westburg limits opportunities for Mayo at third over the final month.  Making Jackson Holliday the everyday second baseman next season, minus any resets in the minors, pushes Westburg to third. The Orioles must come up with a way to get Mayo’s bat in the lineup and not limit him to designated hitter duty at such a young age.

First base coach Anthony Sanders doubles as outfield instructor and would be assigned to Mayo.

“I don’t think we’re at that point yet,” he said Sunday afternoon. “Usually Hyder (manager Brandon Hyde) will come to me and let me know to start introducing to the outfield. But strictly right now he’s an infielder. He’s been working really hard behind the scenes at third base, so I’m excited to see him come back.

“I think going down gives him a little breather, and to come back now and hopefully hit the ground running.”

Sanders said he’d inspect a player’s athleticism as the starting point in his tutelage.

“I’ve watched him in spring training move around,” Sanders said, “and I don’t think he’d have any problem going out there if that was the case.”

* Who gets an at-bat first, Maton or Liván Soto? The betting windows are open.

Soto was used as a pinch-runner for Eloy Jiménez on Aug. 27 at Dodger Stadium, and he played shortstop yesterday in the ninth inning. Maton’s also been up multiple times, but his only action consisted of two innings at second base after replacing Westburg on June 20 in a 17-5 win at Yankee Stadium.

The Orioles have outrighted Maton twice and they selected his contract again yesterday while designating catcher David Bañuelos for assignment. Maton’s absence from Norfolk’s lineup on Sunday wasn’t just a coincidence.

The Orioles routed the White Sox yesterday 13-3, but Maton and Soto couldn’t squeeze out an at-bat.

At least we can stop wondering which infielder makes his first appearance as an Oriole at Camden Yards after Soto replaced Gunnar Henderson in the ninth. The betting windows are closed.

Soto had two at-bats with the Angels on May 18, 2023. Maton is 0-for-10 in three games.

* Anthony Santander received an intentional walk yesterday with two outs in the fourth inning to load the bases for Colton Cowser, who flied out with the Orioles leading 3-2.

Santander has drawn 47 walks, including three yesterday, leaving him eight short of his career highs in 2022 and 2023. But yesterday marked the first intentional free pass in 2024.

That’s an interesting stat considering that he’s belted 39 home runs and he’s a switch-hitter, which theoretically puts the pitcher at a disadvantage unless we’re talking about reverse splits.

Santander produced his fifth multi-walk game yesterday and first since Aug. 10. His only other career three-walk game was Sept. 8, 2023 in Boston.

* Austin Slater has become a staple in left field against left-handed starters, but he played right yesterday with the White Sox sending right-hander Chris Flexen to the mound. Slater responded with a single and double in his first two at-bats and a two-run single off right-handed reliever Chad Kuhl in the sixth.

Santander was the designated hitter and delivered a run-scoring single in the third inning, but he didn’t appear to be running at his usual speed – whatever that is, since I’ve never timed him. He tripped Sunday while rounding first base on a single, and Hyde checked on him later. Santander laughed about it and a few teammates expressed their amusement.

Hyde told the media yesterday that he "wanted to get Santander off his feet today from playing the outfield."

Let’s see where he’s playing tonight against rookie right-hander Nick Nastrini, who’s 0-6 with a 7.04 ERA and 1.728 WHIP in seven starts. Nastrini made one start in August and held the Rangers to one run and three hits in six innings.

* A reminder that players must be in the organization by Sept. 1 to be eligible for the postseason.

The Orioles selected reliever Jorge López on waivers from the Marlins on Sept. 2, 2023, which made him ineligible. However, the idea was to provide a lift out of the bullpen as they chased a division title.

They announced the signing of reliever Adrian Houser to a minor league deal on Saturday to make it under the wire.

Houser, 31, appeared in 23 games (seven starts) with the Mets this season and posted a 5.84 ERA and 1.529 WHIP in 69 1/3 innings. He was released on July 31, signed with the Cubs on Aug. 6 and had a 3.86 ERA and 1.071 WHIP in four starts with Triple-A Iowa.