Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo is in day-to-day status after tightness in his lower back prevented him from playing in yesterday’s doubleheader against the Tigers.

Mayo was scratched in Game 1.

The Rays are starting left-hander Shane McClanahan this afternoon, which likely would have gotten Mayo in the lineup. Weston Wilson is playing third base.

“He’s feeling better than yesterday, but seems like it’s still bothering him a little bit,” said manager Craig Albernaz.

Asked whether the injured list is a possibility, Albernaz said, “I don’t think so.”

“It seems like it’s manageable, but day-to-day, not too sure,” Albernaz added. “It all depends on how he responds.”

Jackson Holliday is starting at second base in a left-on-left matchup. Holliday is 2-for-11 with a home run since his reinstatement from the injured list. He’s 0-for-3 versus lefties.

“Like obviously with Jackson in particular, 22 years old, we all see the talent and the impact player that he is and is gonna be,” Albernaz said. “So definitely don’t view him as a platoon player by any stretch. But also coming off the IL, you want to do right by him to get reacclimated back to big league pitching and trying to find the right matchups, which I think we’ve had. And also acknowledging that the players who were here when he was hurt, like Jeremiah Jackson in particular, played extremely well and are playing extremely well. So it’s finding the right balance of those two aspects, and then also trying to find … it’s not like McClanahan is the easiest lefty to face.

“Every lefty in this league that starts, they’re a starter for a reason in the big leagues, so it’s just trying to find the right spots to use Jackson, but also not trying to overexpose him. If that makes sense.”

Tyler O’Neill is batting ninth today for the first time this season and third in his career. He’s batting .146 with a .487 OPS in 32 games and is 2-for-39 against left-handers.

Albernaz saw some good swings from O’Neill yesterday, but the veteran outfielder went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

“I know it’s tough to hear sometimes, but he fouled one straight back and he got off his swing and timing was off a little bit or path wasn’t the way that it usually is, so you just miss a clip underneath,” Albernaz said. “He drove a ball to right field. So with T.O., and that’s where we kind of talked about with Gunnar, when guys are not getting results but they’re close, then they’re still not getting results and now they’re overcompensating for the results portion.. And then that’s when it kind of spirals a little bit. And that’s where Gunnar was outstanding of trusting his process and his work and going through that tough time, and still being able to get off the swing he wants to. And now you’re kind of seeing the results, especially with him using the middle of the field.

“I think with T.O., him driving the ball to right field was to me a huge positive swing for him, because early in the year when he was going through it, it looked like he was trying to pull everything. And when T.O., when any hitter is going well, they’re driving the ball to right-center, or left-center if you’re a lefty. Having that swing seems like he’s close, but also, don’t know what’s going on in T.O.’s head. So I think he’s close and I know the work he’s putting in with our hitting coaches, so I could see him kind of like really catching fire here hopefully in a week or so.”

Outfielder Michael Siani, claimed on waivers from the Dodgers last week and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, is on the taxi squad today.

Siani, 26, is a career .221/.277/.270 hitter in 160 major league games with the Reds and Cardinals.

“It’s good to be here and good to possibly get the opportunity, and go from there. Just kind of feel it out,” he said.

“I’m known to be able to go out and get it in the outfield, play defense and run the bases, and then put together some good at-bats. Just competitive, gonna play hard, and I feel like that fits in with this team.”

Siani is a distant relative of former Raiders and Colts receiver Mike Siani. They met for the first time a few months ago.   

Long-time Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins returns to Baltimore and is batting sixth today.

Mullins had never stepped through the curtain to the visiting side until this morning. The club will play a tribute video for him.

“I expect to go out, sign as many autographs as I can, interact with some folks,” he said. “Just having some fun out there is the goal. It’s gonna be a good time.”

For the Rays
Chandler Simpson LF
Junior Caminero 3B
Jonathan Aranda 1B
Yandy Díaz DH
Richie Palacios 2B
Cedric Mullins CF
Victor Mesa Jr. RF
Hunter Feduccia C
Taylor Walls SS

Shane McClanahan LHP