Orioles manager Craig Albernez had the choice tonight of staying with two hot hands at third base.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand is 10-for-27 with three home runs and nine RBIs in seven games since joining the club, but he was on the bench last night. Coby Mayo got the start and went 2-for-4 with his 14th homer.

Mayo also had two hits July 19 and his average has climbed to .201, its highest since June 5. His .680 OPS is the highest since March 29.

Mayo gets the call again as the Orioles try to claim the series.

Catcher Yohel Pozo makes his debut.

Dylan Beavers is leading off as the designated hitter. Leody Taveras is in right field.

Jackson Holliday is playing second base. He’s one of four players in the majors with two four-hit games this month, joining the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner, Royals’ Tyler Tolbert and Rays’ Ben Williamson.

In 20 games this month, Holliday is slashing .333/.484/.396 (16-for-48) with 15 walks and 10 strikeouts. The 15 walks are second most in the American League behind Taylor Ward’s 17.

Tyler O’Neill, on the bench again tonight, is the first Oriole with multiple pinch-hit homers in the same season since Jeff Conine (two) in 1999.

The Orioles have left seven or more runners on base in a season-high nine consecutive games. They haven’t done it in 10 straight since April 8-20, 2014.

Dean Kremer allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings in his last start at Fenway Park to raise his ERA from 4.15 to 5.06.

Kremer has made three career appearances (two starts) against the Tigers and gone 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA and 1.585 WHIP in 17 2/3 innings. He’s allowed 10 runs and 15 hits in 10 2/3 innings at Comerica Park.

Zach McKinstry is 4-for-9 with two doubles against Kremer. Gleyber Torres is 8-for-29 with two doubles.

Kremer is holding right-handers to a .143 average and .286 slugging percentage on fastballs this season after they posted a .277 average and .397 slugging in 2025.

The bullpen’s 1.27 ERA since the All-Star break is the lowest in the majors, followed by the Red Sox (1.66) and Brewers (2.17).

Andrew Kittredge has gone a career-high 14 straight appearances without allowing an earned run.

The Orioles are 52-55 and two games behind for the last Wild Card. The Mariners also are two back, the Astros are 1 ½ and the Twins are one. The Tigers fell to four at 50-57 and might be on the verge of selling.

Tarik Skubal starts Wednesday afternoon against the Orioles, who would love to see him go before first pitch.

Right-hander Troy Melton, a fourth-round pick in 2022 out of San Diego State, isn’t an easy mark tonight. He’s posted a 1.95 ERA and 0.950 WHIP in 10 starts since joining the rotation on May 24 in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Camden Yards.

Melton has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of those starts. He held the Orioles to one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Tigers mostly used Melton in relief last season, his first in the majors. Twelve of his 16 appearances came out of the bullpen and he finished with a 2.76 ERA and 1.007 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings.

Right-handers are hitting .179 with a .446 OPS against Melton this season, and left-handers are hitting .176 with a .694 OPS. He’s registered a 2.63 ERA in five home starts and a 1.38 ERA in five road games.

The Orioles are a combined 1-for-18 against Melton. Pete Alonso is 1-for-5.

Javier Báez is activated from injured list and starting in center field.

Riley Green is batting .451 and slugging .686 with three home runs on the first pitch this season.

For the Orioles
Dylan Beavers DH
Pete Alonso 1B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Taylor Ward LF
Leody Taveras RF
Jackson Holliday 2B
Coby Mayo 3B
Colton Cowser CF
Yohel Pozo C

Dean Kremer RHP

For the Tigers
Kevin McGonigle SS
Gleyber Torres 2B
Riley Greene LF
Dillon Dingler DH
Colt Keith 3B
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Zach McKinstry RF
Eduardo Valencia C
Javier Báez CF

Troy Melton RHP