Pérez returns to Orioles active roster and Tate optioned (plus lineups)
The Orioles reinstated left-hander Cionel Pérez from the 15-day injured list today and optioned reliever Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk.
Pérez pitched twice with Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment. He faced two batters on March 30 at Camden Yards, strained his oblique muscle and walked off the field.
Tate made 11 appearances and allowed four earned runs (five total) in 12 2/3 innings. He replaced Craig Kimbrel yesterday in the ninth inning.
Kimbrel avoided the IL and is day-to-day with tightness in his upper back. Manager Brandon Hyde said Kimbrel is feeling better.
Kyle Bradish and John Means are here and ready to be reinstated later this week. Bradish could start Thursday afternoon.
Jordan Westburg missed yesterday’s game with a stomach bug but he’s starting at second base tonight.
Heston Kjerstad stays on the bench. Anthony Santander is in right field and Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.
Grayson Rodriguez allowed two runs or fewer in each of his first four starts, but he surrendered seven with 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings in Anaheim. He’s struck out 34 batters in 28 1/3 innings.
Rodriguez made one start against the Yankees last season and shut them out over 6 1/3 innings.
Adley Rutschman posted a .492 on-base percentage against the Yankees last season, the fourth-highest total all-time for a catcher with a minimum 50 plate appearances, according to STATS.
The only Orioles with higher on-base percentages versus the Yankees with a minimum 50 plate appearances are Gene Woodling (.554 in 1958), Bob Nieman (.547 in 1956) and Frank Robinson (.500 in 1970).
Rutschman has a career-high nine-game hitting streak.
Cedric Mullins is one stolen base away from 100 in his career.
The Orioles are playing only their second division series. They trail the Yankees by a game in the American League East, and they’re two ahead of the third-place Red Sox.
The Orioles are 2-1-1 against the Yankees in their last four series, the loss coming in the first. They haven’t won or tied four series in a row against New York since Sept. 2015-June 2016, per STATS.
Right-hander Clark Schmidt is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.461 WHIP in five starts. He’s struck out 29 batters and surrendered only three home runs in 25 1/3 innings.
Schmidt has made nine career appearances against the Orioles, including four starts, and allowed 13 earned runs (15 total) in 27 innings.
Gunnar Henderson is 3-for-10 with two doubles against Schmidt. Ryan Mountcastle is 3-for-9 with a home run. Anthony Santander is 4-for-12 with a double.
The Yankees have won the last seven games with Schmidt starting.
Left-handers hit .293/.375/.479 against Schmidt and right-handers hit .237/.294/.384. However, left-handers are hitting .214/.327/.333 this season and right-handers are hitting .340/.390/.547.
For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Cedric Mullins CF
Jordan Westburg 2B
Colton Cowser LF
Ramón Urías 3B
Grayson Rodriguez RHP
For the Yankees
Anthony Volpe SS
Juan Soto RF
Aaron Judge LF
Anthony Rizzo 1B
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Austin Wells C
Gleyber Torres 2B
Oswaldo Cabrera 3B
Trent Grisham CF
Clark Schmidt RHP