Blaze Alexander is playing third base tonight and batting sixth, as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Angels in Anaheim.

Hot bat will travel.

Alexander is hitting .422 in June after posting a .365 average last month. According to STATS, he’s the only player in the majors this season with a .360 average or better in multiple months in a minimum 50 plate appearances.

The only other Orioles to do it are Melvin Mora in 2004, Roberto Alomar in 1996, Joe Orsulak in 1992 and Bob Nieman in 1959.

Infielder Luis Vázquez is on the taxi squad. Jackson Holliday remains out of the lineup with tightness in his groin, though he told the media yesterday that he was available.

Colton Cower gets a rare start against a left-hander. Sam Huff is catching and Coby Mayo is the designated hitter, which puts Samuel Basallo on the bench after he caught four games in a row.

Tyler O’Neill is in right field and Jeremiah Jackson is the second baseman in a mostly right-handed lineup.

Taylor Ward makes his return to Anaheim after the Orioles acquired him in a November trade for starter Grayson Rodriguez, who’s on the 15-day injured list. Ward appeared in 348 games at Angel Stadium, third most among active players, and can become the 33rd to reach 350.

Gunnar Henderson has a career .787 slugging percentage against the Angels, fourth highest among Orioles against any opponent in a minimum 50 plate appearances after Luke Scott’s .896 versus the Tigers, Bobby Bonilla’s .890 versus the Tigers and Wayne Gross’ .796 versus Cleveland, according to STATS. Eric Davis is fifth with a .763 slugging percentage against the Red Sox.

Henderson’s career 1.203 OPS against the Angels is the second highest by any player in major league history with a minimum 80 plate appearances behind Todd Zeile (1.356).

Pete Alonso is one of five players with 18-plus home runs and 50-plus RBIs through the first 80 games of his Orioles career, joining Mark Trumbo, Nelson Cruz, Reggie Jackson and Frank Robinson. Alonso did it in 79.

Kyle Bradish has his ERA down to 4.00 after he allowed one run with a career-high 12 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings in Seattle. His 12 strikeouts were the most by an Orioles pitcher since John Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021 in Seattle.

Bradish has one career start against the Angels, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2018. He allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings in May 2023 at Camden Yards.

Since June 14, Oriole starters have registered a 2.68 ERA that’s the second lowest in the majors after the Brewers’ 2.56.

Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri, the first major league pitcher born and raised in Italy, is making his seventh appearance and fourth start. He’s posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.550 WHIP in 20 innings, with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts.

In his last start, Aldegheri allowed six runs and six hits in three innings in Arizona.

Left-handers have hit .333 with a 1.039 OPS against Aldegheri in his 13-game career, which spans parts of three seasons. Right-handers hit .277 with an .815 OPS.

Aldegheri hasn’t faced the Orioles.

The Angels haven’t won a series against the Orioles since a three-game sweep in July 2021. That’s nine consecutive series wins for the Orioles, one shy of their longest stretch against the Angels, which happened in 1965-66.

The Angels are sporting the worst record in the American League at 32-47 and are pointed toward their 11th consecutive sub-.500 finish, the longest active streak in the majors and the sixth longest in the expansion era. The 1998-2011 Orioles and 1977-90 Mariners are tied for second with 14. The 1993-2012 Pirates had 20 losing seasons in a row.

Mike Trout is on the injured list again with a right hamstring strain. Other veterans on the IL include Adam Frazier, Yoan Moncada, Travis d’Arnaud and Yusei Kikuchi. The Angels have the second-youngest roster in the majors after the Cardinals. The Orioles rank 13th.

Trey Mancini cleared waivers, was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake and elected free agency.

For the Orioles
Taylor Ward LF
Gunnar Henderson SS
Pete Alonso 1B
Coby Mayo DH
Tyler O’Neill RF
Blaze Alexander 3B
Colton Cowser CF
Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Sam Huff C

Kyle Bradish RHP

For the Angels
Zach Neto SS
Nolan Schanuel 1B
Jo Adell RF
Jorge Soler DH
Wade Meckler LF
Denzer Guzman 3B
Donovan Walton 2B
Logan O’Hoppe C
Jose Siri CF

Sam Aldegheri LHP 

Here are the starters for the last two games of the series:

Tuesday: RHP Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Johnson (0-2, 12.83)
Wednesday: RHP Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.81) vs. RHP José Soriano (8-4, 3.03)

Here are some of the Orioles latest injury updates:

Closer Félix Bautista is scheduled to begin throwing bullpen sessions on Tuesday, a significant step after his August shoulder surgery.  

Outfielder Dylan Beavers is moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. Dean Kremer remains with the Tides, and Cade Povich remains with Double-A Chesapeake.

Reliever Yaramil Hiraldo is continuing his mound progression, including live batting practice this week.

Catcher Adley Rutshman continues to be monitored and following post-concussion protocols.