masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgRio Ruiz, Ramón Urías, Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle were grouped this morning for early infield work. Three of the four are in today’s lineup as the Orioles close out their series against the Yankees and head to the West Coast.
Maikel Franco is the third baseman. Otherwise, Urías is playing shortstop, Valaika is the second baseman and Mountcastle is the first baseman.
Trey Mancini is serving as the designated hitter.
Mancini became the 49th player to record 500 hits in an Orioles…

Rio Ruiz, Ramón Urías, Pat Valaika and Ryan Mountcastle were grouped this morning for early infield work. Three of the four are in today’s lineup as the Orioles close out their series against the Yankees and head to the West Coast.

Maikel Franco is the third baseman. Otherwise, Urías is playing shortstop, Valaika is the second baseman and Mountcastle is the first baseman.

Trey Mancini is serving as the designated hitter.

Mancini-HR-Swing-TOR-White-Sidebar.jpgMancini became the 49th player to record 500 hits in an Orioles uniform and the 14th to reach the milestone in 486 games or fewer. He’s reached base safely in each of the last six games, posting a .318 average (7-for-22) with two doubles, three RBIs, three walks and two runs scored.

Cedric Mullins is 15-for-34 (.441) against left-handed pitching and his 15 hits are tied with Jose Altuve for most in the majors. Entering the season, Mullins had 14 career hits against southpaws – all of them while batting right-handed.

Mullins leads the club with 30 hard-hit balls, calculated as 95 mph or more.

The outfield alignment is untouched with Austin Hays in left and DJ Stewart in right.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis remains day-to-day with a sore left adductor/groin. He did some light running up the first base line this morning.

Jorge López made his first start this season against the Yankees in the Bronx on April 5, when he allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings. Aaron Judge hit a solo home run.

López has completed five innings in only one of his four starts this season. He owns a 6.62 ERA and 1.472 WHIP in four career starts against the Yankees covering 17 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery has registered 4.57 ERA and 1.015 WHIP in four starts, striking out 23 batters in 21 2/3 innings. His 2021 debut came against the Orioles in that same April 5 game, when he shut them out on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in six innings.

Montgomery is 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.233 WHIP in eight career starts against the Orioles. He’s struck out 50 batters in 43 innings.

The Orioles have averaged 1.8 runs a game in the first six against New York this season.

John Means, Matt Harvey and Bruce Zimmermann are starting this weekend in Oakland. The Athletics haven’t revealed their starters.

Today’s game-time temperature will be 77 degrees with a three percent chance of precipitation.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Trey Mancini DH
Maikel Franco 3B
Pedro Severino C
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
DJ Stewart RF
Ramón Urías SS
Pat Valaika 2B

Jorge López RHP

For the Yankees
DJ LeMahieu 1B
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Gleyber Torres SS
Gio Urshela 3B
Rougned Odor 2B
Aaron Hicks CF
Gary Sánchez C
Clint Frazier RF
Brett Gardner LF

Jordan Montgomery LHP