Hicks on bench for tonight's series finale in San Diego

SAN DIEGO – Aaron Hicks is out of tonight’s lineup as the Orioles attempt to win their 24^th series.

Hicks didn’t play last night after leaving Monday’s game with back soreness.

Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter. Gunnar Henderson is the cleanup hitter and third baseman. Jordan Westburg is playing second base.

Austin Hays is in left field. Hays homered last night in the ninth inning but is batting .192 since the break.

Ryan Mountcastle has reached base in 22 consecutive games, the longest Orioles streak since Trey Mancini’s 23 from Sept. 5, 2019 to April 2, 2021, and the longest in a single season since Mancini reached in the last 22 games in 2019.

Dean Kremer has never faced the Padres. He’s seeking his 12^th win tonight, which would tie him for second-most in the majors.

Kremer limited the Astros to two runs in seven innings in his last start.

Left-handed hitters are batting .193 against Kremer since July. They posted a .318 average prior to that month.

The Orioles are 74-46 and 2 ½ games ahead of the second-place Rays, who won today in San Francisco.

Left-hander Blake Snell is 9-8 with a 2.63 ERA that’s the lowest in the majors. Opponents are batting .196 against him.

Snell is averaging 6.3 hits, 0.9 home runs and 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He also leads the majors with 76 walks (5.3) in 130 frames.

Snell hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in his last 15 starts and has surrendered one or fewer in 12. He’s made seven career starts against the Orioles and posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.047 WHIP in 35 1/3 innings.

Hicks is 5-for-24 with a double and home run against Snell. James McCann, who’s catching tonight, is 3-for-13 with a home run and seven strikeouts.

Juan Soto is batting .348 against fastballs this month, per STATS, and .190 against other pitches.

For the Orioles
Adley Rutschman DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Anthony Santander RF
Gunnar Henderson 3B
Jordan Westburg 2B
Austin Hays LF
Cedric Mullins CF
James McCann C
Jorge Mateo SS

Dean Kremer RHP

The Orioles and Athletics haven’t listed their starters for the three-game weekend series in Oakland.

For the Padres
Ha-Seong Kim 2B
Fernando Tatis Jr. RF
Juan Soto LF
Manny Machado 3B
Xander Bogaerts SS
Jake Cronenworth 1B
Gary Sánchez C
Ben Gamel DH
Trent Grisham CF

Blake Snell LHP