ST. LOUIS – Austin Hays remains the cleanup hitter and is playing right field tonight at Busch Stadium, where the Orioles open a three-game series against the Cardinals.

Per Orioles public relations, Hays ranks among major league leaders in the following categories since April 15:

* Tied for first in hits with 32
* Second in batting average at .386
* Fourth in OPS at 1.037
* Tied for fourth in total bases with 49
* Tied for fourth in on-base percentage at .447
* Tied for fifth in doubles with eight
* Seventh in slugging percentage at .590

Anthony Santander is in left field tonight.

Ramón Urías is the second baseman and Tyler Nevin is starting at third.

ST. LOUIS – Travis Lakins Sr. is back in the Orioles bullpen for their series against the Cardinals that begins tonight at Busch Stadium.

Reliever Jorge López has been placed on the bereavement list this afternoon due to the death of his grandfather. Lakins was on the taxi squad.

The Orioles optioned Lakins after Thursday’s game to create a roster spot for left-hander Logan Allen but kept him in Baltimore as the 27^th man for Sunday’s doubleheader.

López is allowed to be away from the team for three to seven games. The Orioles travel to Detroit after Thursday’s series finale against the Royals.

Lakins hasn’t pitched since May 1 against the Red Sox, when he tossed two scoreless innings, returned for the ninth and served up his second grand slam of the season.

The Orioles finally made it to St. Louis.

The charter wasn’t delayed, as far as I know. I’m referring to how they haven’t traveled there since 2003 and are getting their first look at New Busch Stadium, which opened three years later.

Games in April 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic, which led to regional travel and a missed opportunity.

Better much later than never.

Manager Brandon Hyde has experienced plenty of baseball in St. Louis while a coach on the Cubs staff. He enjoys the atmosphere and has described it to his players.

The Orioles have reached the end of their homestand. A makeup game today against the Royals, followed by their flight to St. Louis.

Tyler Nevin is starting at third base after playing right field yesterday in Game 2.

Trey Mancini is the first baseman and Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter.

Anthony Bemboom is catching.

Cedric Mullins is 13-for-36 (.361) with five doubles and two home runs during an eight-game hitting streak.

The Orioles were supposed to be off today, but Saturday’s rainout has forced a noon game onto their schedule.

I’m off anyway, but only when it comes to ballpark duty. The mailbag is filling up. I can’t ignore it any longer.

Time to take a letter dump.

You ask, I answer, etc. This is the latest sequel to the original. And as you know, sequels usually disappoint.

I’ll try my best to slow the trend.

The Orioles played two games today in first-pitch temperatures of 51 and 57 degrees.

They also heated up.

A disappointing, defense-deficient loss in the opener was followed by a 4-2 victory over the Royals before an announced doubleheader crowd of 19,893 at Camden Yards, with left-hander Bruce Zimmermann notching his second quality start.

The Orioles improved to 11-17 by winning for the third time in four games. They wrap up the series at noon tomorrow, their third game in 24 hours.

Zimmermann allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, with no walks and five strikeouts. He retired 14 of 16 batters before Salvador Perez doubled in the sixth and scored on Hunter Dozier’s single.

The left field wall can’t keep every baseball in front of it. The Orioles have cleared it a few times in defiance of the new measurements, but there are more denials than dugout celebrations.

Ryan Mountcastle thought he hit a game-tying, two-run homer off Kansas City’s Zack Greinke in the fifth inning of the opening game of today's doubleheader, but umpires held him at second base with a run-scoring double. The Orioles lost the challenge, took the lead, lost it and fell to the Royals 6-4 in Game 1 at Camden Yards.

Rougned Odor was a hero in the seventh with his go-ahead, two-run double, but he committed an error with two outs in the ninth by failing to backhand Nicky Lopez’s grounder, Jorge López threw the ball into right field on a pickoff attempt and Michael A. Taylor singled to left.

A dramatic swing in the game and Odor’s afternoon.

Cionel Pérez allowed back-to-back singles, with Salvador Perez bringing home Taylor with an insurance run.

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. didn’t leave Baltimore after the Orioles optioned him Thursday night. They knew the forecast left them vulnerable for a doubleheader over the weekend.

Lakins is the 27th man today and will report to Triple-A Norfolk after the nightcap.

“We kept him ready,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

Lakins allowed nine runs and 12 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He surrendered three home runs, including two grand slams.

“I wasn’t pitching well, so I knew there was a chance,” he said of the demotion. “It’s just the business. I wasn’t surprised. I knew it was coming. I’ve got to throw the ball better and put myself in a better position to not get optioned.”

The Orioles and Royals will try again today.

The weather has the final word, but it’s much kinder this morning.

Friday night’s game was postponed due to rain and rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader. Jordan Lyles is pushed back again to today, and the Royals are countering with Zack Greinke.

Bruce Zimmermann and left-hander Daniel Lynch start the second game of the twinbill.

Lyles has registered a 4.50 ERA and 1.615 WHIP in four starts, with 32 hits allowed in 26 innings. He’s 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 0.888 WHIP in five career starts against the Royals, surrendering eight runs in 32 2/3 innings and walking only two batters.

Today’s forecast for a traditional, throwback-style doubleheader calls for cloudy skies. Rather than do my usual over-thinking about why we say “skies” when there’s only one, I’ll simply appreciate the dry conditions and celebrate mothers everywhere who perform a job much harder and more important than mine.

The farm system keeps dividing our attention, and in the best possible way.

Adley Rutschman is back at Triple-A Norfolk, with media and fans debating his debut date in Baltimore. Must happen at home, right? Like Matt Wieters on May 29, 2009.

Is May 16 too soon, a Monday when the Orioles open a four-game series against the Yankees? Otherwise, they could select his contract May 20 to begin a weekend series against the Rays.

The Orioles aren’t home again until May 31 against the Mariners, after they play three games in the Bronx and five – yes, five – in Boston.

The competition is playful but also motivating. Who’s the first to surrender an earned run? Who blinks first?

And eventually, who is the first to join the Orioles bullpen for his major league debut.

Nick Vespi, an 18th-round pick in the 2015 draft, made his 10th appearance with Triple-A Norfolk last night and has allowed three unearned runs and six hits in 11 2/3 innings. He's walked two batters and struck out 17, the numbers that jump highest from his stat sheet.

Cole Uvila, chosen from the Rangers organization in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, allowed his first unearned run Thursday night with the automatic runner scoring in the 10th inning. He’s permitted only four hits and struck out 14 batters over 12 innings, but also issued seven walks.

“When it comes to the preparation, they’re both as good as it gets,” said Norfolk pitching coach Justin Ramsey. “They come in with a plan every day and they’re always looking through the notes, the scouting reports. They know where we’re trying to go with the guys. They take pride in knowing how they want to attack them. And obviously, the stuff has played very well.”

The Orioles optioned reliever Travis Lakins Sr. to Triple-A Norfolk after last night's game to create room on the active roster for left-hander Logan Allen, claimed on waivers yesterday from the Guardians.

Lakins was most vulnerable among the bullpen bunch, surrendering three home runs, including two grand slams, and nine runs total in 8 1/3 innings. The first slam came after he inherited three runners from Chris Ellis in Anaheim.

Allen gives the Orioles four left-handers in their nine-man bullpen, including Keegan Akin, Paul Fry and Cionel Pérez. 

Four relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings last night in a 5-3 win over the Twins.

Allen is wearing No. 61.

Ryan Mountcastle wasn’t keeping count in his head. Jorge Mateo and Rougned Odor also didn’t know. Three infielders just living in the moment.

Double plays were turned in crisp fashion Wednesday night, but the math was fuzzy.

The Orioles tied the club record with five in a 9-4 win over the Twins. They did so within the first seven innings. It moved from convenient to comical.

Mountcastle stood at first base and waited for the throws, the first coming from Mateo in the opening inning after the shortstop made a basket catch of Carlos Correa’s popup with his back to the infield, spun and doubled off Luis Arraez.

“That play he made was pretty crazy,” said Mountcastle, who wasn’t anticipating a second out.

The Orioles concluded their series tonight against the Twins, readied for the Royals to arrive at Camden Yards and discussed the roster move that’s pending. Perhaps straining to be heard over music blaring to celebrate the win and a split.

The 26 players who ate and dressed after a 5-3 victory over Twins, made possible by Austin Hays’ tie-breaking solo home run off Jhoan Duran in the bottom of the eighth inning, apparently won’t stay together. Somebody's got to go.

Left-hander Logan Allen is expected to report after the Orioles claimed him on waivers this afternoon from the Guardians. The rotation lost John Means and Chris Ellis to season-ending surgeries. The bullpen holds nine relievers and will be tweaked to accommodate Allen, with Travis Lakins Sr. the most vulnerable.

Manager Brandon Hyde used four tonight behind starter Spenser Watkins, with Jorge López getting the last four outs and the win. The Orioles hit five home runs, including two by Ryan Mountcastle, who went back-to-back with Hays in the eighth.

Who needs August humidity?

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expects Logan Allen to report to the club on Friday, with the left-hander’s role to be determined later.

Allen was claimed on waivers today from the Guardians and added to a 40-man roster that’s full again. A corresponding 26-man roster move is pending.

“I don’t know much about him,” Hyde said. “(Tony) Mansolino managed him a few years ago. I had heard of him, I have seen him pitch. It’s a left-hander with a really good arm. Was a starter coming up, and I think we’re just going to take a look at a guy with a high ceiling and exceptional arm.”

Most of Allen’s appearances in the minors and 15 of 30 in the majors came as a starter. The Orioles could slot him in the rotation or use him as another left-hander in a bullpen that currently has Cionel Pérez, Paul Fry and Keegan Akin.

“It just happened,” Hyde said. “See what happens when he shows up.”

Catcher Adley Rutschman and left-hander DL Hall made brief stops at Double-A Bowie before heading to the next level.

Rutschman and Hall are joining Triple-A Norfolk Friday in Nashville. Rutschman is scheduled to be in the lineup.

Hall, the No. 5 prospect in the system per MLBPipeline.com, made his only start with the Baysox this morning and was charged with two runs and three hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one batter, struck out six and again flashed a fastball clocked at 100 mph.

The Orioles kept Hall at extended spring training and assigned him to high Single-A Aberdeen for one start. Hall made seven starts with the Baysox last summer before sustaining a stress reaction in his left elbow.

Rutschman, the top prospect in baseball, is back with the Tides after straining his right triceps early in camp. He went 2-for-4 today and is 11-for-25 with five doubles since leaving Sarasota.

The home runs puzzle Orioles reliever Travis Lakins Sr. and do considerable damage to his ERA and efficiency with inherited runners. His confidence and support system are fine, but he sees the numbers, too.

Manager Brandon Hyde praised him for saving the bullpen on the final day in Anaheim, after Chris Ellis left in the first inning with shoulder soreness and no batters retired, an entire game needing to be covered.

Ellis was charged with one run and one hit in three innings, but he entered with the bases loaded and surrendered Jo Adell’s grand slam.

Hyde appreciated how Lakins gave the Orioles two scoreless innings against the Red Sox in Sunday’s series finale and regretted that an attempt to get three more outs from him with a 9-1 lead resulted in J.D. Martinez’s grand slam and a pitching change.

The bullpen shut out the Twins over five innings last night in a 9-4 win. Hyde used Cionel Pérez and Dillon Tate for two each and Jorge López for the ninth in a non-save situation. Lakins didn’t warm.

The Orioles had lost 16 games and two starting pitchers before tonight. High marks less than a full month into their season.

They won’t run the table after tonight’s 9-4 victory over the Twins at Camden Yards, but perhaps they could avoid more changes to their rotation created by injuries.

The lesser of two long shots.

Chris Ellis was supposed to replace John Means, at least for a while, but he’s done in 2022 after today’s procedure to clean up his right labrum and rotator cuff.

Spenser Watkins closes out the series Thursday night opposite Chris Archer, and Jordan Lyles, Tyler Wells and Bruce Zimmermann stay in turn this weekend against the Royals. Kansas City is starting Carlos Hernández, Daniel Lynch and Zack Greinke.

Tyler Nevin avoided the injured list and says he could play tonight if the Orioles wanted him to come off the bench.

Probably won’t happen, but it’s an option.

Nevin exited last night’s game in the sixth inning with right groin soreness and the club planned to re-evaluate him this afternoon after he arrived at the ballpark.

“I feel better,” he said. “A little bit of soreness, but I’m day-to-day. Nothing I’m too concerned about for the long haul, but it’s something to keep an eye on.”

Good news for a team that’s carrying three reserves on a 26-man roster.

The anticipated matchup is here. The one fans circled when the starters were announced.

Kyle Bradish makes his second major league appearance tonight, as the Orioles try to win for only the third time in 10 games.

The Twins are starting former Orioles first-round draft pick Dylan Bundy, traded to the Angels back in December 2019 for a four-pitcher haul that included Bradish.

Should be fun.

Bradish allowed two earned runs and three total in six innings in his debut Friday night against the Red Sox. He was extended to 81 pitches.