masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Davis is absent from the Orioles lineup tonight as they close out their homestand.
Davis is 9-for-25 (.360) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in his last seven games with an at-bat to raise his season average to .155.
Eighteen of Davis’ 34 balls put in play have registered 95 mph or more, the highest percentage on the team at 52.9.
Manager Brandon Hyde indicated last night that he’ll keep Davis in the lower portion of the order. At least for now.
“I’m really comfortable…

Chris Davis is absent from the Orioles lineup tonight as they close out their homestand.

Davis is 9-for-25 (.360) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in his last seven games with an at-bat to raise his season average to .155.

Eighteen of Davis’ 34 balls put in play have registered 95 mph or more, the highest percentage on the team at 52.9.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated last night that he’ll keep Davis in the lower portion of the order. At least for now.

“I’m really comfortable with where he is now,” Hyde said. “I love having guys that can do damage in the bottom third of the lineup, so the way the lineup is kind of constructed right now … You want your high OPS guys and you want your guys that are going to generate runs at the top. I want those guys to get the most at-bats.

“I always, from the first day, I wanted to get CD in a comfortable spot to try and get him going. It might happen. I don’t think it’s going to happen tomorrow. We’ll see, but I love the way he’s swinging the bat right now.”

Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and Renato Núñez is making his third career appearance at first base. Stevie Wilkerson is in right field for the first time.

Núñez is 15-for-44 (.340) in 12 games at Camden Yards.

Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field again tonight, his late removal last night done as a precaution after his latest bout with soreness in his right quadriceps muscle. He’s 10-for-21 (.476) with four home runs and 17 RBIs with runners in scoring position. He’s hit safely in 18 of his 21 starts.

mancini-trey-leaping-catch-white-sidebar.jpgMancini has made 15 starts in right, but his 16th will have to wait until the Twins series that starts Friday in Minnesota. The move to the other corner has been a smooth one, with two outstanding plays made last night on balls that could have cleared his head.

“I saw him play pretty good in spring training, kind of experimented earlier this year with right field, thought that played with his strength a little bit,” Hyde said.

“He’s played really well in right field. I think his arm plays up in right field, and Smitty is more comfortable in left, so we’re still going to use the ballpark a little bit, Depending on the ballpark, we’ll readjust our outfielders, but I love how comfortable Trey is in right. I think he’ll let you know he’s getting comfortable out there and he’s making a lot of nice plays.

“That’s a tough play on a line drive over your head. To be able to make that play was spectacular, so Trey’s a ballplayer.”

John Means is a left-handed pitcher and he’s on the mound tonight for his third career start and eighth appearance. He’s allowed only three earned runs this season in 15 2/3 innings and has struck out 17 batters.

Left-handed hitters are 2-for-14 with six strikeouts against Means.

Means is celebrating his 26th birthday today. According to STATS, he’s the 12th Orioles pitcher to start on his birthday and the first since Wei-Yin Chen (30th) on July 21, 2015.

Orioles pitchers are 6-4 when starting on their birthday. The team is 7-4.

Jonathan Villar, playing shortstop tonight, is 22-for-55 (.400) lifetime against the White Sox. He’s 16-for-51 (.314) at home this season.

Ervin Santana has made two starts this season and allowed 10 runs and 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings. His last outing came on April 15.

Santana is 5-5 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.224 WHIP in 16 starts against the Orioles over 101 1/3 innings. He has a 5.06 ERA and 1.238 WHIP in nine career starts at Camden Yards over 53 1/3 innings.

Davis is 5-for-31 (.161) with two doubles, three home runs and 12 strikeouts lifetime against Santana.

For the Orioles
Jonathan Villar SS
Trey Mancini DH
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Renato Núñez 1B
Rio Ruiz 3B
Stevie Wilkerson RF
Joey Rickard CF
Hanser Alberto 2B
Pedro Severino C

John Means LHP

For the White Sox
Leury García LF
Tim Anderson SS
José Abreu 1B
James McCann C
Yoán Moncada 3B
Welington Castillo DH
Ryan Cordell RF
José Rondón 2B
Adam Engel CF

Ervin Santana RHP

Here are the starters for the series in Minnesota:

Friday: Alex Cobb vs. Martín Pérez
Saturday: Dan Straily vs José Berríos
Sunday: Dylan Bundy vs Kyle Gibson