Coby Mayo is batting ninth tonight as the Orioles' designated hitter, facing Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot to begin the three-game series at Camden Yards.
Jordan Westburg is starting at third base and batting second. Ramón Laureano is in right field, Cedric Mullins in center and Colton Cowser in left.
Gary Sánchez is catching.
Tomoyuki Sugano has allowed four runs or fewer in each of his first 15 career starts, tied for the third-longest opening streak in franchise history behind Jim Hardin (19 games in 1967-68) and Tyler Wells (18 games in 2022).
Gunnar Henderson is a career .339/.405/.619 (40-for-118) hitter with five doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 15 RBIs in 30 games against Tampa Bay.
Henderson is slashing .441/.548/.647 (15-for-34) with runners in scoring position since May 8.
Ryan O’Hearn needs four hits to reach 500. Sánchez is one RBI shy of 500.
The Orioles have walked at least once in a franchise-record 158 consecutive games since July 2, 2024. Six teams in major league history have finished a season by walking at least once in every game: the 2020 Athletics (60 games), 2000 Mariners (162), 1956 Senators (155), 1955 Red Sox (154), 1936 Browns (155), and 1917 Indians (156).
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O’Hearn 1B
Ramón Laureano RF
Colton Cowser LF
Gary Sánchez C
Cedric Mullins CF
Coby Mayo DH
Tomoyuki Sugano RHP
Ryan Mountcastle has started a hitting progression while on the 60-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring.
“It’s feeling better,” Mountcastle said. “Just taking it day-by-day and doing some stuff in the weight room and just trying to move it around as best I can. But yeah, it’s getting better.”
The initial prognosis was eight-to-12 weeks, but Mountcastle believes he can return on the shorter end of it. He hasn’t played since May 30 after stealing home and injuring the hamstring.
“That’s what we’re hoping,” he said. “Just taking it one day at a time, hopefully no setbacks, and just keep going with the program they have for me.”
Mountcastle came out of his slide at home plate and said his leg “felt a little weird.”
“I went back out in the field and wasn’t really getting any better, so we decided to come out of the game,” he said. “Woke up the next day and did not feel good at all, and I knew something was up. So I got an MRI.”
The time away allows Mountcastle to reflect on a season that’s seen him bat .246 with a .628 OPS and two home runs in 52 games.
“Just some tweaks you want to do in the cage and out on the field,” he said. “Definitely have a little bit of time to work on that and hopefully feel good heading into these last couple months.”