Tyler O’Neill was reinstated from the injured list earlier today, giving the Orioles their projected starting outfield with Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser.
O’Neill has appeared in only 24 games this season due to neck inflammation and a left shoulder impingement. His last at-bat in the majors was May 15.
During his absence, O’Neill remained stuck in 1-for-23 and 2-for-38 slumps. His last home run was hit April 13.
The Orioles optioned Dylan Carlson after Wednesday's game in Texas in anticipation of O'Neill's return.
O’Neill is expected to be in the lineup tonight, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta.
Gary Sanchez is tied for second in the majors with 20 RBIs since returning from the injured list on June 14. Per STATS, he’s the first Oriole with 20 or more RBIs over a 15-game span since Trey Mancini in 2021 (20) and the first Orioles catcher to do it since Chris Hoiles in 1998 (23).
Charlie Morton is facing one of his former teams tonight. He broke into the majors with the Braves in 2008 and spent the past four seasons with them.
Morton was pushed back from Wednesday to tonight due to mild elbow tendinitis. He’s 4-7 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.569 WHIP this season in 18 games (12 starts).
Morton hasn’t pitched since June 24 against the Rangers, when he allowed three runs in five innings. He surrendered only one run in 11 innings in the two previous starts, with one walk and 17 strikeouts.
In seven career starts against the Braves, Morton has registered a 3.53 ERA in 1.570 ERA over 35 2/3 innings, and he’s recorded a 3.43 ERA and 1.182 WHIP in 65 starts at Truist Park (formerly SunTrust Park). He goes back to the Turner Field days, posting a 6.70 ERA in 11 games at the old ballpark.
Jurickson Profar is 5-for-18 with a double and home run against Morton.t
More Morton: He’s posted a 2.90 ERA over his last six starts after registering a 10.89 ERA in his first six. He’s allowed one home run over the last six.
Orioles relievers have covered 89 innings in 20 games since June 12, most in the majors.
The Orioles have won five of the last seven series against the Braves dating back to 2012. However, they’ve lost eight of their last nine games played on the Fourth of July, the exception a walk-off win in 2022 against the Rangers. Matt Moore hit Jorge Mateo in the 10th inning with the bases loaded.
Even with that rough stretch, the Orioles are 37-33 on July 4 since the franchise moved to Baltimore, fourth-best in the American League, per STATS.
The Orioles have lost five of their last eight games this season and seven of 11, and they begin the day 7 ½ back for the last Wild Card. They’ve gone 18-27 on the road.
The Braves are 24-19 at home and 15-28 on the road.
Spencer Strider makes his 10th start since returning from elbow-reconstructive surgery. He received an internal brace, the same procedure that Tyler Wells underwent last June.
Strider has a 3.86 ERA and 1.143 WHIP in 49 innings, with 57 strikeouts and only five home runs surrendered. He held the Phillies to two runs in seven innings in his last start and limited opponents to a .194 average in June.
Strider made his only start against the Orioles on May 6, 2023 in Atlanta and allowed two runs with 10 strikeouts in five innings.
Catcher Jacob Stallings is the only current Oriole with a hit off Strider, going 1-for-5.
The Braves have lost six of their last eight games and sit in fourth place in the National League East, 11 ½ out of first and seven away from the final Wild Card. They’ve been shut out three times in the last seven games and held to one run in two others.
Atlanta began today ranked 24th in the majors in runs scored with 348.
Profar has hit a home run in each of his first two games since returning from an 80-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Ronald Acuna Jr. needs one home run to become the third player with 175 homers and 200 stolen bases through his age 27 season, per STATS. He’d join Barry Bonds and Mike Trout.
* Former Orioles player and third base coach Billy Hunter passed away yesterday at age 97. The team made the announcement on social media.
Hunter was the last living member of the inaugural 1954 team. Many of us remember him as a coach on some of the best Orioles teams in history under the guidance of Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver before becoming Rangers manager in 1977. Hunter later was head baseball coach and athletic director at Towson State.
Hunter was elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1996.
Hunter is survived by his wife, Bev, sons Greg and Kevin, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
* Brendan Mortensen is in Atlanta for MASNsports.com.