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.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Kade Strowd from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned RHP Brandon Young to Triple-A Norfolk yesterday.

The Orioles went back to five starters and eight relievers today by optioning Brandon Young and recalling Kade Strowd from Triple-A Norfolk.

Young was sent down yesterday after facing the Rangers on Wednesday and allowing four runs in four-plus innings in his third major league start.

Strowd also made his major league debut this season and allowed one run and two hits in one inning May 18 against the Nationals. He’s registered a 5.02 ERA and 1.465 WHIP in 24 appearances with Norfolk.

Strowd is averaging 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings and has surrendered only two home runs.

Tomoyuki Sugano is on the mound tonight as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. Sugano hasn’t completed five innings in his last three starts.

The Orioles continue their homestand tonight against the Rays, and this time, the teams get to play in a major league ballpark.

They split the four-game series at George M. Steinbrenner Field, losing an 8-0 lead on June 18 in one of the season’s low points. The Rays are in second place in the division, a half-game behind the Yankees. They hold the top Wild Card.

Some of the Orioles talked again about getting a reset yesterday. Maybe this one will stick. The others haven’t led to the kind of streak that thrusts a team into a thick of a pennant race. Seven teams remain ahead of the Orioles for the final spot. Five weeks remain until the trade deadline.

Think this is a big series? Every single one feels like baseball life or death.  Just wait until Texas and Atlanta on the next road trip, and a homestand that begins with three games against the Mets.

The offense needs to break out, which is one of the more obvious statements ever made about any team. The Orioles have been shut out in three of the last five games and one-hit in two. Opposing starters have carried a no-hitter through the seventh inning twice and the sixth once. The team ranked 24^th in runs scored yesterday with 315, 23^rd with a .236 average, .302 on-base percentage and .691 OPS. They’re hitting .224/.291/.391 with runners in scoring position and .218/.291/.302 against left-handers.

The Orioles probably won’t match last year’s total of five All-Stars, but they have a chance to send two starters to Truist Field in Atlanta.

Ryan O’Hearn and the Yankees’ Ben Rice are the finalists at designated hitter in the American League. O’Hearn received 1,762,125 votes and Rice garnered 674,120.

Jackson Holliday, in his first full major league season, and the Tigers’ Gleyber Torres are finalists at second base. Torres received 1,981,665 votes and Holliday 1,302,186.

Phase 2 of voting begins Monday at noon and concludes Wednesday at noon. The winners will be announced that night at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Fans are allowed to vote once per day on MLB platforms, and totals will reset. Phase 1 balloting doesn’t carry over to Phase 2.

As the trade deadline gets closer, the industry is broken down again among teams that identify as buyers and sellers, and the group that balances on the bubble.

The Orioles knew who they were the last two summers. They acquired starter Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals on Aug. 1, 2023 for minor league second baseman César Prieto, left-hander Drew Rom and right-hander Zack Showalter. They acquired relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto last July in separate trades with the Phillies, starters Zach Eflin from the Rays and Trevor Rogers from the Marlins, and designated hitter Eloy Jiménez from the White Sox. The biggest names surrendered were outfielder Austin Hays and prospects Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers and Seth Johnson.

That bubble was underneath them in 2022, and they played the odds more than other math by dealing first baseman Trey Mancini and closer Jorge López. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias flew into Texas on the last day of the trip to meet with some veterans and offer assurances that there was “a plan in place.”

“It's going exceptionally well,” Elias said that day. “We’ve got a very bright future ahead of us. I don’t want us utilizing the opportunity of the trade deadline the way we did the last couple of days to speak to the fact that this is a team that’s going to have to be reckoned with from now and this point forward in our division. We’re going to have to scout and develop and manage the roster a certain way to maintain it that way. We’ve seen our competitors do that, and we’re there. We’re at that point.

“I think that it's liftoff from here for this team.”

The Orioles need wins in order to avoid selling at the trade deadline.

Their frustrations this season have spilled into the no-hit zone.

Jacob deGrom was the latest starter to flummox them, retiring the first 18 batters tonight before Jackson Holliday’s leadoff walk in the seventh. Colton Cowser let the dugout exhale with a ground ball single leading off the eighth, and deGrom came out of the game.

The Rangers gave him a seven-run lead, which is like gift vouchers for a billionaire. Don’t need ‘em.

The Orioles managed only one hit and were shut out for the eighth time in a 7-0 loss before an announced Pride Night crowd of 22,828 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles made the anticipated roster move earlier today, recalling Brandon Young and optioning reliever Yaramil Hiraldo.

Young is making his third major league start after allowing six runs and 11 hits in 8 2/3 innings. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the organization’s No. 19 prospect.

Jordan Westburg returns to the lineup, playing third base and batting second.

Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter and Chadwick Tromp is catching. Colton Cowser is in left field and Dylan Carlson is in right. Ramón Laureano is on the bench.

Laureano is hitting .583 and slugging 1.333 when ahead in the count this season.

The Orioles looked like a team that finally had reached its limit, that was done being pushed around. They were no-hit for seven innings Saturday in New York and for six tonight on their home turf. And then they exploded, launching three consecutive home runs to take the lead.

But these aren’t the comeback Orioles of previous seasons, when they’d routinely close the deal. That’s why a club in a state of desperation to build a winning streak that might get it into the Wild Card chase can’t stop spinning its wheels.

Félix Bautista put a runner on second base with no outs in the top of the ninth and escaped the jam, but Evan Carter scored on Sam Haggerty’s fielder’s choice grounder against Seranthony Domínguez in the 10^th, and the Orioles lost to the Rangers 6-5 before an announced crowd of 16,909 at Camden Yards.

Cedric Mullins laid down a sacrifice bunt against Robert Garcia that moved automatic runner Luis Vázquez to third base. Dylan Carlson struck out and Jackson Holliday flied out. 

The outcome moved the Orioles 11 games below .500 again at 34-45. They can claim the series on Wednesday but they’re 3-9 in rubber games.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Agreed to terms on a 2025 minor league contract with C Jacob Stallings.

Pitcher Brandon Young and infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra are on the taxi squad from Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles haven’t listed a starter for Wednesday and Young could fill the role or be used in bulk relief. Either way, interim manager Tony Mansolino indicated that Young will pitch.

Young allowed six runs and 11 hits with eight walks and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings in two starts with the Orioles this season, but he’s registered a 3.29 ERA and 0.841 WHIP in five outings with Norfolk. He pitched in Memphis on Friday and allowed one run and two hits in five innings in his return from right shoulder soreness.

Tomoyuki Sugano will be pushed back from his scheduled turn Wednesday. Mansolino said Sugano isn't a candidate for the injured list.

Vavra is on the medical taxi squad as insurance in case infielder Jordan Westburg goes on the IL with a sprained left index finger that’s kept him out of the lineup since Saturday in New York. However, Mansolino said "all indications" are that we'll see Westburg in the lineup Wednesday or Friday. 

The Orioles’ strategy for beating the heat wasn’t sustainable, but they had a solid plan for winning a game.

How does a team prepare for a first-pitch temperature of 100 degrees?

“By being inside,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.

The Orioles didn’t hit this afternoon or plan on taking batting practice before the next two games. But they eventually had to face the oppressive conditions, as well as the Rangers, and try to rebound from back-to-back losses in the Bronx.

The option to not hit would be lifted at 6:35 p.m. and Jackson Holliday went to work by driving in the Orioles' first four runs to support Trevor Rogers, who kept his cool with eight magnificent, scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory before an announced crowd of 13,929 at Camden Yards.

Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo is beginning his injury rehab assignment Tuesday night for Triple-A Norfolk. The Tides are hosting Gwinnett.

Mateo is on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation caused by a May 31 collision with Heston Kjerstad in right-center field. He was eligible to return on Tuesday but needs to get some at-bats.

“I feel a lot better right now,” Mateo said today via interpreter Brandon Quinones.

The injury occurred in the same elbow that underwent reconstructive surgery last summer, but Mateo was bothered only by some swelling. He’s able to swing a bat, play defense, slide and do “everything I need to do.”

Infielder Luis Vázquez remains on the roster in Mateo’s absence.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of C Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Placed C Maverick Handley on the 7-day concussion Injured List.
• Transferred INF Ryan Mountcastle (right hamstring strain) to the 60-day Injured List.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

Infielder Jordan Westburg remains out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Rangers at steamy Camden Yards.

Westburg is day-to-day with a sprained left index finger.

Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter and batting fourth. That’s sort of like getting a break.

Coby Mayo is starting at first base.

Ramón Laureano is batting second for the first time this season.

Ryan O’Hearn has opened up a commanding lead in voting for American League designated hitter for next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.

O’Hearn has received 937,205 votes to stay well ahead of the Yankees’ Ben Rice (409,336). This would be O’Hearn’s first All-Star selection.

Nelson Cruz in 2014 is the only Orioles designated hitter to be elected by fans.

O’Hearn is slashing .305/.387/.480 with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 65 games. His 1.9 fWAR ranks second on the team behind Gunnar Henderson’s 2.0.

Jackson Holliday stays in second place among AL second basemen with 806,133 votes, barely ahead of the Astros’ José Altuve at 795,123. The Tigers’ Gleyber Torres is first with 1,133,888.

NEW YORK – Jackson Holliday singled on the first pitch thrown this morning. The Orioles had their fill yesterday of no-hit tomfoolery. Get that drama out of the way quickly and go about trying to win a series.

They made it to the eighth inning before losing their lead, and the series.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. lined a two-run double into right-center field off Bryan Baker to move the Yankees past the Orioles 4-2 before an announced crowd of 45,571.

Ben Rice led off the inning with a single and Giancarlo Stanton lined a one-out single into left field at 110.7 mph. Chisholm brought home Rice and pinch-runner Paul Goldschmidt, who slid across the plate as catcher Gary Sánchez tried to make a lunging tag.

Chisholm went to third base, and he scored an insurance run when Sánchez failed to hold onto Gunnar Henderson’s throw on DJ LeMahieu’s grounder. Plate umpire Jansen Visconti called Chisholm out before seeing the ball roll away.

NEW YORK – Orioles reliever Yennier Cano struck out the side yesterday in the seventh inning and was optioned after the game. Overall production and limited bullpen flexibility doomed the 2023 All-Star.

Reliever Yaramil Hiraldo was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. He’s using Cano’s locker at Yankee Stadium.

Cano has a 4.73 ERA and 1.388 WHIP in 32 games. He was scored upon once in nine appearances this month, but the Rays tallied four runs against him in two-thirds of an inning. He had a streak of nine scoreless outings out of 10 prior to the implosion.

“It starts, ultimately, with the amount of innings we’ve had to cover here recently with the bullpen,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “We need a fresh arm. You have a limited amount of bullpen guys who have options, so there’s really just a couple to choose from. You start to look at the big picture, right? The whole season for players, too, and where maybe a guy can take a break and go down and maybe work on something and get back to what they were.

“I know yesterday looks great where Cano comes in, probably has one of his best outings of the year for us. I think you’ve got to be very careful with the recency bias and just understand that we have to look at the last three, four months, last year. And understand that Yenni Cano has been good at times. He’s been up and down. I think everyone can admit that. And I think this could be a really good opportunity for Yenni to go down right now and kind of make the small adjustment, whatever needs to be made in order to get back to being Yenni Cano.”

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Recalled RHP Yaramil Hiraldo from Triple-A Norfolk.
• Optioned RHP Yennier Cano to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.

NEW YORK – Tony Mansolino issued an unintentional warning yesterday to opposing hitters.

The Orioles’ interim manager was asked whether reliever Félix Bautista is resembling the pre-elbow surgery version of himself, the dominant All-Star closer from 2023. Is The Mountain at his peak?

“I still think there’s another gear. I really do,” Mansolino said without hesitation.

“He’s been really good. I still think we’re gonna look up here in July and it’s gonna go up another notch. And I say that with all due respect. He’s been incredible. I think there’s another gear for the guy. He’s getting closer.”

Temperatures are soaring but Bautista is bringing some of his own heat. He struck out Aaron Judge on a foul tip Friday night at 99.7 mph and touched 99.2 against Jazz Chisholm Jr. after starting him out at 98. There’s some fluctuation, of course, with Bautista’s sinker also clocked at 97.7 mph on his strikeout pitch to Chisholm.