It took a while, but the Orioles are finally playing their first night game of spring training, taking on the Yankees under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
Zach Eflin will make just his second start of spring training and first since his impressive two-inning debut March 5. Orioles beat reporters are generally assuming that Eflin won’t get enough innings this spring to be ready for the Opening Day roster, but the O’s haven’t indicated anything one way or the other about Eflin’s status. How he looks tonight might affect their decision.
Tyler O’Neill returns to the Orioles after Team Canada’s elimination from the World Baseball Classic. O’Neill was scalding hot for the O’s before leaving camp, but didn’t play particularly well in the WBC.
Curiously, Coby Mayo remains absent from the Orioles lineup. He hasn’t played since March 10, when he went 4-for-4 as the designated hitter. His last appearance at third base was the previous day, March 9. There haven’t been any reports of an injury, but you’d think the O’s would want Mayo to get as many game reps at third base as possible before the season begins. It’s strange.
Also still missing from the lineup is Ryan Mountcastle, who left the March 11 game after being hit in the hand. X-rays came back negative and Mountcastle was considered day-to-day. MASN’s Roch Kubatko reports that Mountcastle is expected to return tomorrow. Hopefully the same is true for Mayo.
Orioles lineup:
DH Taylor Ward
CF Colton Cowser
1B Pete Alonso
C Samuel Basallo
RF Tyler O’Neill
LF Heston Kjerstad
2B Blaze Alexander
3B Bryan Ramos
SS José Barrero
RHP Zach Eflin
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