masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles will try tonight to end an eight-game losing streak, their third this season, in the series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. They’ve been swept 13 times.
Cedric Mullins brings a 19-game hitting streak to Boston, the longest for the Orioles since Adam Jones hit in 20 straight in May 2012.
Austin Hays is in right field tonight. He’s hit safely in 10 consecutive games to start the month of August.
DJ Stewart is the designated hitter. He homered twice yesterday and has three…

The Orioles will try tonight to end an eight-game losing streak, their third this season, in the series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. They’ve been swept 13 times.

Cedric Mullins brings a 19-game hitting streak to Boston, the longest for the Orioles since Adam Jones hit in 20 straight in May 2012.

Austin Hays is in right field tonight. He’s hit safely in 10 consecutive games to start the month of August.

DJ Stewart is the designated hitter. He homered twice yesterday and has three in his last two games.

Anthony Santander is making his first start in left field, matching his 2020 total. He’s gone 25 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout, the third-longest active streak in the majors.

First baseman Trey Mancini hit .299/.344/.575 with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and eight RBIs in 22 games in July. He’s 6-for-36 with two doubles this month.

Ramón Urías is on the bench again tonight, with Jorge Mateo at second base and Richie Martin at shortstop.

Rookie Spenser Watkins has lost his last three starts, allowing 12 earned runs (13 total) and 20 hits in 15 2/3 innings. He’s never faced the Red Sox.

Thumbnail image for Santander-Points-Black-Fenway-Sidebar.jpgThe Orioles have homered in seven straight games and 16 of 19. They’ve hit 135 to rank 20th in the majors, and their 56 on the road in 59 games are the fourth-fewest.

The Orioles were 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position in the three-game series against the Tigers.

Boston is starting right-hander Nick Pivetta, who’s averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings in his 22 starts. He faced the Orioles twice at Camden Yards this season, allowed six runs and 10 hits in 12 innings and won both starts.

Maikel Franco hit his first Orioles home run off Pivetta on April 11, and Mullins homered on May 9.

The Red Sox activated Kyle Schwarber from the injured list, and Marwin Gonzalez is designated for assignment. He’s the designated hitter tonight, his first game since July 2.

The Orioles are 4-6 against the Red Sox this season but swept them in a three-game series in Boston to begin the season and outscored them 18-5.

The Red Sox are 3-11 in their last 14 games. They haven’t posted their lineup.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Anthony Santander LF
Trey Mancini 1B
DJ Stewart DH
Austin Hays RF
Pedro Severino C
Maikel Franco 3B
Jorge Mateo 2B
Richie Martin SS

Spenser Watkins RHP

The game between the Orioles’ two Florida Complex League entries in Sarasota, Fla. was suspended after three innings, due to rain, with the black team ahead 3-0.

First-rounder Colton Cowser was 0-for-2 for the orange team. Third-rounder John Rhodes had a two-run single for the black team. Terrin Vavra, on an injury rehab assignment, walked and scored.

Update: Manager Brandon Hyde doesn’t have a timeline for Ryan Mountcastle’s return from the concussion list, but the rookie is in Boston and making progress.

“Nothing new besides just improving and feeling better today,” Hyde said. “Last few days he’s progressively getting better. Timeline, we’re still not sure, but he was just on the treadmill getting some running in and responded well, so he’s trending in the right direction.”

Urías remains day-to-day with soreness in his upper right leg/groin.

“Just giving him another day,” Hyde said.

Asked whether he’s considered moving down Mancini in the order, Hyde said, “No. I think Trey’s OK mentally. He’s been swinging the bat really well out of the All-Star break and he’s scuffling a little bit.”

Catcher Nick Ciuffo is on the taxi squad.