masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDJ Stewart is leading off this afternoon and Cedric Mullins is on the bench as the Orioles close out their series against the Rays and hop on a flight to Cleveland.
Austin Hays moves to center field.
Austin Wynns stays behind the plate. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is playing second base.
Rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann – yes, a local product – is 4-3 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) over 54 innings. He’s allowed five runs in his last three…

DJ Stewart is leading off this afternoon and Cedric Mullins is on the bench as the Orioles close out their series against the Rays and hop on a flight to Cleveland.

Austin Hays moves to center field.

Austin Wynns stays behind the plate. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter. Pat Valaika is playing second base.

Rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann – yes, a local product – is 4-3 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) over 54 innings. He’s allowed five runs in his last three starts over 15 1/3 innings, striking out 20 batters.

Zimmermann made his major league debut against the Rays in the second game of a Sept. 17, 2020 doubleheader at Camden Yards and surrendered five runs in three innings. Willy Adames and Hunter Renfroe hit home runs, but they’re no longer on the team.

Stewart-HR-Swing-Bat-Flip_Gray-Sidebar.jpgRight-hander Michael Wacha has posted a 4.54 ERA and 1.195 WHIP in 10 games (six starts) in his first season with the Rays. He hasn’t exceeded five innings or 48 pitches since April, so the Orioles will be exposed again to Tampa Bay’s impressive bullpen.

Wacha has made two career starts against the Orioles and allowed six earned runs (seven total) and 11 hits in seven innings.

The Orioles are trying to end their road losing streak at a club-record 14 games.

The Rays have won five of their last six games, improving to a season-high 17 above .500 at 41-24. They’re 22-6 since May 13, 28-9 since May 2 and 36-16 since April 1. They’ve won 11 of their last 12 against the Orioles and taken 10 consecutive series at Tropicana Field.

The Rays have outscored the Orioles 41-20 this season.

For the Orioles
DJ Stewart LF
Trey Mancini 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Austin Hays CF
Freddy Galvis SS
Maikel Franco 3B
Pat Valaika 2B
Austin Wynns C

Bruce Zimmermann LHP

For the Rays
Manuel Margot RF
Yandy Díaz 1B
Mike Brosseau 2B
Randy Arozarena DH
Brandon Lowe LF
Francisco Mejía C
Joey Wendle 3B
Taylor Walls SS
Brett Phillips CF

Michael Wacha RHP

The Orioles are listing their starters for the Indians series that begins Monday as TBA, Matt Harvey, Keegan Akin and Jorge López. Harvey is pushed back a day.

A fifth starter was needed by Tuesday, but now it’s Monday with the tweaking of the rotation.

The Indians are starting right-handers J.C. Mejía, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie.

Update: Manager Brandon Hyde said this is a “scheduled” day off for Mullins.

“Just trying to keep him healthy throughout the season,” Hyde said in his Zoom call. “Couple games on turf in center field, day game today. My goal is to keep the guy on the field for six months and give him every opportunity to make the All-Star team, etc. But want to keep him fresh as possible with this tough stretch we’re going to be going through.

“Without kind of a prototypical leadoff guy, DJ’s typically been a high on-base guy. We don’t have many high on-base guys in the lineup, so I’m going to give DJ the opportunity to be at the top of the lineup.”

Hyde also said Monday’s starter probably will come from Triple-A Norfolk. Dean Kremer hasn’t started since Tuesday.