masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgPHOENIX РRenato N̼̱ez is making his first start at third base this season as the Orioles continue their series against the Diamondbacks.
Núñez has played one inning at third this year. Rio Ruiz usually gets the start versus a right-hander.
The lack of a designated hitter has forced manager Brandon Hyde to find ways to get Núñez’s bat in the lineup.
Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field and Anthony Santander is in center. Hanser Alberto is at second base and Jonthan Villar is…

PHOENIX РRenato N̼̱ez is making his first start at third base this season as the Orioles continue their series against the Diamondbacks.

Núñez has played one inning at third this year. Rio Ruiz usually gets the start versus a right-hander.

The lack of a designated hitter has forced manager Brandon Hyde to find ways to get Núñez’s bat in the lineup.

Smith-D-Warmups-sidebar.jpgDwight Smith Jr. is in left field and Anthony Santander is in center. Hanser Alberto is at second base and Jonthan Villar is playing shortstop instead of Richie Martin.

Chris Davis is back in the lineup at first base.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly was a 37th round pick of the Orioles in 2007, but he chose to attend Yavapai College in Arizona. He also turned down the Indians, who selected him in the 22nd round in 2009. The Rays grabbed him in the eighth round in 2010 out of Arizona State University.

The Diamondbacks signed Kelly as a free agent on Dec. 4, 2018 after the Rays released him.

Kelly is 7-9 with a 3.77 ERA and 1.222 WHIP in 20 starts as a rookie. He has a 2.83 ERA and 1.012 WHIP in nine starts at home and a 4.68 ERA and 1.425 WHIP in 11 starts on the road.

Kelly has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of his last nine starts and two or fewer in six.

For the Orioles
Jonathan Villar SS
Trey Mancini RF
Chance Sisco C
Renato Núñez 3B
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Anthony Santander CF
Chris Davis 1B
Hanser Alberto 2B
Dylan Bundy RHP

For the Diamondbacks
Jarrod Dyson LF
Ketel Marte CF
Eduardo Escobar 2B
Christian Walker 1B
Adam Jones RF
Jake Lamb 3B
Nick Ahmed SS
Alex Avila C
Merrill Kelly RHP

The Orioles are listing Tom Eshelman, Asher Wojciechowski, Aaron Brooks and Dylan Bundy as the starters in Anaheim. The series begins Thursday night.

Bundy came off the injured list this afternoon.