masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRyan Mountcastle hit on the field today and is in the Game 1 lineup against the White Sox.
Mountcastle, who bruised his left hand Tuesday on a hit by pitch, is the designated hitter.
“He feels good enough to give it a try,” manager Brandon Hyde said on his Zoom call. “Really encouraged by that, give him a lot of credit for understanding our situation and playing banged up. Shows me a lot about him and his character of trying to be a pro. He’s still sore, but he’s going to try.”
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Ryan Mountcastle hit on the field today and is in the Game 1 lineup against the White Sox.

Mountcastle, who bruised his left hand Tuesday on a hit by pitch, is the designated hitter.

Mountcastle-Tilts-Head-Gray-Sidebar.jpg“He feels good enough to give it a try,” manager Brandon Hyde said on his Zoom call. “Really encouraged by that, give him a lot of credit for understanding our situation and playing banged up. Shows me a lot about him and his character of trying to be a pro. He’s still sore, but he’s going to try.”

First baseman Trey Mancini, who has a bruised right elbow from Wednesday’s hit by pitch, could return to the lineup Sunday or Monday.

“Trey’s improving,” Hyde said. “He’s not quite ready for me to put him in the lineup yet. We’re hoping maybe tomorrow or the next day. He’s going to play sore also. Drilled him pretty good there on the elbow. I think if this was later in the year and we were contending, playing in a big game postseason-wise, he’d be knocking down the door to be in the lineup, but right now, late May, he’s just not ready.”

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. has been added as the 27th man for the doubleheader. He’s 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA and 1.636 WHIP in 16 appearances.

Lakins actually never left the team. He’s been with the Orioles on the trip, making for an easy transaction.

The Orioles optioned Lakins on Sunday and recalled left-hander Brandon Waddell, who was optioned yesterday. Lakins will return to Triple-A Norfolk after the nightcap.

Anthony Santander has a nine-game hitting streak. He’s batting .421 (8-for-19) with four extra-base hits in the first inning and is 5-for-7 with two home runs on the first pitch.

Tyler Nevin is making his major league debut at first base.

Matt Harvey is making his 11th start tonight. He’s allowed 18 earned runs (19 total) and 24 hits in the last three, covering 10 2/3 innings.

Harvey has made four career appearances against the White Sox and allowed only one run and nine hits with one walk and 20 strikeouts in 19 innings. He’s never pitched at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Orioles have lost 10 games in a row and 17 of 19. A loss today in Game 1 would match their streak in 1958 that began against the Kansas City Athletics on July 27 and ended against the Washington Senators on Aug. 9 in D.C. Arnie Portocarrero allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win.

The last time the Orioles lost 11 or more in a row was Sept. 17-30, 2009, when they dropped 13 straight. They’ve been outscored 77-40 during the current stretch while posting an 8.13 ERA and batting .236.

The Orioles are 5-19 in May, tied for the most losses during the month in club history. They went 10-19 in 1955, 9-19 in 2018 and 8-19 in 2019. The fewest wins in May are eight in 2019.

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel posted a 1.99 ERA and 1.089 WHIP last summer in 11 starts with the White Sox and placed fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting. He’s made 10 starts this season and registered a 4.28 ERA and 1.280 WHIP.

Keuchel has a career 2.81 ERA and 1.188 WHIP in eight starts against the Orioles. He committed his first error since 2017 in his last start against the Yankees, when he tied his season low with only four innings.

The Orioles have promoted infield prospect Joey Ortiz, 22, from Single-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie. Ortiz, ranked No. 30 by MLBPipeline.com, is batting .289 with seven doubles, two triples and an .816 OPS.

Ortiz was a fourth-round pick in 2019 out of New Mexico State. He’s on the long list of high-ceiling shortstops in the system.

The Orioles could move Single-A Delmarva shortstop Jordan Westburg to Aberdeen, now that Ortiz has left the IronBirds. Gunnar Henderson also is pushing for a promotion.

The Baysox are loaded, with top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez earning a promotion yesterday and joining DL Hall, Adley Rutschman, Mike Baumann, Kevin Smith and Terrin Vavra.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Freddy Galvis SS
Anthony Santander RF
Pedro Severino C
Maikel Franco 3B
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Pat Valaika 2B
Tyler Nevin 1B
Ryan McKenna LF

Matt Harvey RHP

For the White Sox
Tim Anderson SS
Yasmani Grandal C
Yoán Moncada 3B
José Abreu 1B
Yermín Mercedes DH
Jake Lamb RF
Andrew Vaughn LF
Leury García CF
Nick Madrigal 2B

Dallas Keuchel LHP