Lineup and notes for today’s game against the Tigers

Today in Sarasota, the Orioles (4-3-2) will take on the Detroit Tigers (5-3-1) at 3:05pm, televised on MASN. This is the first Grapefruit League meeting this spring between the two teams and the first of two matchups. The Orioles will travel to Lakeland for the only other meeting of this exhibition season on March 18.

The Orioles made their final trip to Fort Myers yesterday, leaving JetBlue Park with a decisive 9-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Orioles won both games this spring at JetBlue Park, defeating a split-squad Red Sox team in their first appearance on February 27, 7-6. Mike Wright pitched three scoreless innings yesterday, his longest outing so far of the spring. It was a big day for the Orioles’ Rule-5 picks from December, as Richie Martin went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Drew Jackson went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Infielders Ryan Mountcastle and Jace Peterson, and outfielder DJ Stewart all contributed, notching two hits in the victory.

Today’s starting lineup features Jonathan Villar leading off, playing second base. Joey Rickard, who is 4-for-11 this spring will bat second and play center field. Chris Davis bats third, playing first base and Renato Nuñez will hit cleanup and play third base. Austin Wynns is behind the plate, batting fifth and the Orioles’ number one organizational prospect, Yusniel Diaz will hit sixth and play right field. Diaz leads the team in hits this spring (7-for-17) and is certainly turning heads early. Alcides Escobar will play shortstop and bat seventh, Austin Hays will be in left field, hitting eighth and Anthony Santander will be the designated hitter, batting ninth.

Getting the start today and making his Grapefruit League debut is right-hander Andrew Cashner. Don’t expect to see him for more than two innings though, as manager Brandon Hyde has scheduled six other pitchers behind him. Cashner made 28 starts last season, marking his third straight season with at least 28 starts. He was tied for second on the team for games started (28), ranked second in innings pitched (153) and ranked fourth in strikeouts (99).

Cashner will be looking to put behind him last year’s forgettable campaign that saw him lose 10 or more games for the fourth year in a row. He lost 16 with the San Diego Padres in 2015, 11 in 2016 between the Padres and Miami Marlins, 11 with the Texas Rangers in 2017 and 15 with the Orioles last season. His 69 losses since 2013 is third-most among active pitchers. Also, his 3.77 run support average is the lowest among all starters since 2013 with a minimum of 600 innings pitched.

Following Cashner today, we’ll see right-handers Dillon Tate, Gabriel Ynoa, former Rule-5 pick Pedro Araujo, Cody Carroll, Branden Kline and left-hander Tanner Scott.

Tate will be making his third appearance this spring, after tossing an inning on February 24 against the Blue Jays and two innings on February 27 in Fort Myers against the Red Sox. He’s allowed two earned runs, three hits, two walks and has struck out one.

Ynoa makes his second appearance of the spring. He started the game on February 27 in Fort Myers against the Red Sox, pitching two innings and allowing one earned run on three hits.

Araujo will also make his second appearance today. His last appearance was a quick one, only lasting an inning-and-a-third on February 28 in Clearwater against the Philadelphia Phillies. He allowed one run on two hits while issuing a walk and striking out one.

Carroll will have his third outing today. He’s pitched an inning a piece in each outing, allowing two hits on February 24 against the Blue Jays and two runs on two hits on February 28 in Clearwater against the Phillies.

Kline has pitched two scoreless innings this spring and today will be his third outing. The local product from Frederick is tied with Jimmy Yacabonis for team lead in punch outs with five. He fanned the side on February 24 against the Blue Jays and struck out two on February 27 in Fort Myers against the Red Sox.

Scott was tagged for four runs on four hits by the Blue Jays in his first outing on February 24. He lasted just an inning-and-a-third, however his next appearance three days later in Fort Myers went for an inning, giving up just one hit while striking out two.

Today will be the second Grapefruit League game MASN will televise. There are five more remaining on the schedule, March 8 against the Red Sox at 1:05, March 9, a split-squad game at 6:05 against the Yankees, March 14 at 1:05 against a split-squad Twins team, March 17 at 1:05 against a split-squad Yankees team and March 20 at 6:05 against the Red Sox.