Valdez reinstated from IL, Mullins and Santander out of lineup

Reliever César Valdez has been reinstated today from the 10-day injured list, with reliever Isaac Mattson optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Valdez hasn't pitched since June 20 due to a lower back strain. A prolonged slump has raised his ERA to 5.74 and WHIP to 1.650 in 25 appearances and 26 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in April and recorded six of his eight saves.

Mattson made his second major league appearance last night and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings.

The Orioles are 4-5 on a road trip that concludes today in Anaheim with Ryan McKenna in center field and Cedric Mullins sitting with the reserves.

Austin Hays is in right field and DJ Stewart is starting in left. Anthony Santander also is on the bench today, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter.

Maikel Franco remains day-to-day with a sprained right ankle. Domingo Leyba gets another start at third base.

Hays had his nine-game hitting streak end last night. Mullins is 0-for-9 in the series.

Thomas Eshelman is making his second career appearance in Anaheim. He worked 4 1/3 innings in relief on July 25, 2019 and allowed one run and four hits.

Today marks his fourth start of the season. He's registered a 6.57 ERA and 1.703 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings.

Orioles starters have completed six innings in only two of the last 29 games.

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval, the Astros' 11th-round pick in 2015 who was traded three years later for catcher Martín Maldonado, has registered a 3.89 ERA and 1.250 WHIP in 10 games (seven starts) this season. He's averaging 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings and left-handers are 8-for-41 (.195) against him.

Sandoval has never faced the Orioles.

David Fletcher has a career-high 17-game hitting streak. He ties the Astros' José Altuve for the longest streak by an American League player this season.

The Angels have won the first two games of the series by scores of 8-7 and 4-1.

Orioles left-hander John Means began his injury rehab assignment this afternoon at Single-A Aberdeen, where he's slated to throw two or three innings. He's gone two so far and allowed one run to Brooklyn on Luke Ritter's home run. He retired the side in order in the first.

For the Orioles
Ryan McKenna CF
Austin Hays RF
Trey Mancini 1B
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Ramón Urías SS
DJ Stewart LF
Pat Valaika 2B
Austin Wynns C
Domingo Leyba 3B

Thomas Eshelman RHP