masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFreddy Galvis moves up to second in the order this afternoon as the Orioles continue their series against the Nationals in D.C.
Austin Hays is on the bench today. Ryan Mountcastle gets the set in left field with no designated hitter.
Pat Valaika is the second baseman.
Cedric Mullins is hitless in his last three games, 2-for-19 in his last five and is now batting .292/.361/.480. He stays in the leadoff spot.
Rookie Bruce Zimmermann is making his seventh start, earning the assignment with one run…

Freddy Galvis moves up to second in the order this afternoon as the Orioles continue their series against the Nationals in D.C.

Austin Hays is on the bench today. Ryan Mountcastle gets the set in left field with no designated hitter.

Pat Valaika is the second baseman.

Cedric Mullins is hitless in his last three games, 2-for-19 in his last five and is now batting .292/.361/.480. He stays in the leadoff spot.

Rookie Bruce Zimmermann is making his seventh start, earning the assignment with one run and two hits allowed in 5 2/3 bulk relief innings against the Yankees. He’s never faced the Nationals.

Left-handed hitters are 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs against Zimmermann, the Baltimore native and Loyola Blakefield graduate.

In his first season with the Nationals, left-hander Jon Lester is 0-2 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.406 WHIP in four starts spanning 21 1/3 innings. His most recent outing was his worst, with five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field.

The Orioles certainly are familiar with Lester, who’s made 27 starts against them and gone 15-4 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.272 WHIP in 171 1/3 innings.

Juan Soto is 7-for-17 (.412) with a double, home run, two RBIs and two walks in his last four games.

Josh Bell is 11-for-30 (.367) with two doubles, two homers, seven RBIs, three walks and seven runs scored in his last eight games. He’s batting .579 (11-for-19) on the first pitch of an at-bat.

Kyle Schwarber is 11-for-35 (.314) with two doubles, four homers, nine RBIs, six walks, one hit by pitch and six runs scored in his last nine games.

The Orioles have lost 11 of their last 13 games and been outhit 30-6 in the last two while scoring three runs.

“I just think we’ve got to find a way to get that big inning to get the offense rolling,” Hays said last night. “I think 75-80 percent of games there’s more runs scored in one inning than the other team scores the entire game, so finding our walks, getting two-out hits, getting hits with runners in scoring position, just finding ways to extend innings and just keep passing it back to the next guy. It’s kind of that, to keep passing it off to the guy behind you and find way to get on base. I know that’s what I’m trying to do in the two hole.

“I know Trey (Mancini) and (Anthony) Santander, those guys behind me, it’s just kind of any means necessary to get on base for those guys so they can drive me in.”

Santander-Swings-Orange-Spring-Sidebar.jpgSantander came off the injured list yesterday after a month-long break and singled in his first at-bat. He can provide some protection behind Mancini, who doubled twice last night, giving him 100 in his career, and is slashing .281/.349/.533 in 44 games. His 39 RBIs lead the majors.

“Early in the year Trey was hitting two and Santander three and (now) I have Santander hitting behind Trey, really, for that reason, and also because Anthony doesn’t have a ton of at-bats, either, right now,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s missed more than a month, he played in a few games (at Bowie) and had to sit out a few days.

“I just know that there’s going to be somebody behind Trey who’s really going to compete and is a threat, and I like watching Tony hit. … It’s nice to see him back in there, and hitting behind Trey, that was part of the consideration.”

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Freddy Galvis SS
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Pedro Severino C
Maikel Franco 3B
Ryan Mountcastle LF
Pat Valaika 2B
Bruce Zimmermann LHP

Reliever Hunter Harvey begins his injury rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Aberdeen. The Orioles are hoping he can be reinstated by June 1.

This is my final post of the day. I’ll be back early Sunday morning.

Update: Harvey’s rehab appearance is now set to take place with Triple-A Norfolk.