Orioles and Rays lineups

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Left-hander DL Hall is making his major league debut this afternoon, and the Orioles are attempting to win a fifth consecutive series as part of their amazing turnaround.

Hall joined the active roster this morning, with reliever Nick Vespi optioned again to Triple-A Norfolk. Hall, the No. 4 prospect in the organization per MLBPipeline.com and Baseball America, is the 54^th player used by the Orioles this season.

He's wearing No. 49.

Spenser Watkins is available in the bullpen and is expected to start Thursday’s makeup game against the Cubs at Camden Yards.

The Orioles want to transition Hall into a relief role after today’s outing, which could begin with Norfolk. Hall is expected to be in the Orioles’ bullpen in September after rosters expand. To be decided is how they get him to that point.

It’s going to be a process however it’s done, with shortened stints and less rest between appearances.

Adley Rutschman is batting cleanup today as the designated hitter, the fifth time that he’s been slotted fourth. He’s slashing .328/.500/.492 (20-for-61) since the All-Star break.

Ryan McKenna gets the start in center field and is leading off. Ramón Urías is batting fifth, one spot ahead of right fielder Austin Hays.

Last night, Jorge Mateo became the third player in Orioles history to have five hits as the No. 9 hitter and the first since Rich Dauer on June 2, 1980. Mark Belanger did it on May 11, 1974 – four singles and a double.

Mateo is the seventh Orioles shortstop to record a five-hit game since 1954. And he’s batting seventh today.

The Orioles are slashing .300/.364/.496 this month. They began yesterday with the highest OPS in the American League and the fifth-highest in the majors.

The Orioles could move seven games above .500 for the first time since May 22, 2017. They’ve gone 24-9 since July 3^rd, while the Rays have lost 12 of 18.

The day began with the Orioles a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay in the division and wild card race. They trail the Blue Jays by 1 ½ for second place and the second wild card spot.

To go a step further, the first-place Yankees have a 11 ½-game lead over the Orioles.

The Rays haven’t lost a home series to the Orioles since 2017.

Baltimore native Shane McClanahan is 10-5 with a 2.24 ERA and 0.834 WHIP in 21 starts. The left-hander is averaging 5.9 hits, 1.6 walks and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

The last two starts have been a bit of a struggle, with McClanahan allowing nine runs and 13 hits in 10 2/3 innings. He hadn’t surrendered more than three earned runs in any start this season until his last two.

McClanahan faced the Orioles on opening day and shut them out over 4 1 /3 innings with seven strikeouts. In the July 26 rematch, he allowed two runs and two hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander hit home runs.

Mullins, who’s on the bench today, batted .256/.317/.383 in the first half and is hitting .315/.361/.480 since the break. He’s 15-for-42 (.357) with three doubles and two home runs in 10 games this month.

For the Orioles
Ryan McKenna CF
Anthony Santander LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Adley Rutschman DH
Ramón Urías 3B
Austin Hays RF
Jorge Mateo SS
Rougned Odor 2B
Robinson Chirinos C

DL Hall LHP

For the Rays
Yu Chang 2B
Yandy Díaz DH
Randy Arozarena LF
Isaac Paredes 3B
Francisco Mejía C
Christian Bethancourt 1B
Jose Siri CF
Roman Quinn RF
Taylor Walls SS

Shane McClanahan LHP