Santander went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an RBI double, a walk and two total runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.
Santander got the Orioles on the board with a second-inning homer, and his RBI double in the seventh provided a key insurance run. He may never want June to end -- he's batting .274 (29-for-106) with 13 homers and 26 RBI across 27 contests this month. The incredible surge has him up to 22 homers, 55 RBI, 46 runs scored, 14 doubles and no stolen bases through 78 games this season, though he's still batting a middling .233 despite his .813 OPS.
Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Slugs first career grand slam
Rotowire
Kjerstad went 1-for-1 with a grand slam, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.
Kjerstad's slam came in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-2 lead. It was the first grand slam of his career, and he's now homered in his last two games, both coming against Texas. The 25-year-old prospect has added seven RBI, three runs scored, no stolen bases and a 5:8 BB:K across 33 plate appearances this season. The left-handed-hitting Kjerstad has gotten looks in both corner outfielder spots as well as at designated hitter, and he's poised to compete with Colton Cowser for playing time while Austin Hays is battling knee soreness.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Works around two walks for save
Rotowire
Kimbrel worked around two walks in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.
Kimbrel, who hadn't walked multiple batters in an outing since May 8, was able to pitch his way out of trouble. He's allowed two runs (one earned) while posting a 13:5 K:BB over 9.1 innings in June, converting six of his seven chances this month. Kimbrel is up to 19 saves with a 2.37 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB through 30.1 innings overall. Kimbrel has pitched three of the last four days, so he may not be available if a save situation arises Sunday. With Jacob Webb, Yennier Cano and Cionel Perez also having pitched Friday and Saturday, there could be an opportunity for Dillon Tate or Bryan Baker to get a look in a high-leverage spot.
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Orioles' Cade Povich: Grabs first career win
Rotowire
Povich (1-2) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out three without walking a batter over five innings to earn the win Saturday over the Rangers.
He gave up a couple of solo home runs, but Povich ended up earning his first career win after Heston Kjerstad put the Orioles ahead with a grand slam in the fifth inning. After allowing six runs in his debut, Povich has given up a total of six runs across his last four outings. He's at a decent 4.05 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB through 26.2 innings over five starts. The Orioles had discussed going to a six-man rotation before a rough stretch of pitching injuries in June, but regardless it's unclear if Povich will stick around in the majors once Dean Kremer (triceps) returns from the injured list, which could happen next week.
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Orioles' Austin Hays: Dealing with knee soreness
Rotowire
Hays is dealing with swelling and soreness in his knee, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Hays jammed his knee while making a play in the outfield Tuesday and hasn't appeared in a game since. He could be available off the bench Saturday, but there's a chance the Orioles wait until his knee has fully recovered before putting him back in a game.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Mountcastle isn't in the Orioles' lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers.
Mountcastle will get a day to regroup Saturday after going 0-for-10 at the plate over his last three games. Ryan O'Hearn will fill in for Mountcastle at first base, moving Heston Kjerstad into the DH spot while Colton Cowser picks up another start in left field.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Back in action
Rotowire
Rutschman (hand) is starting at catcher and batting second Saturday against the Rangers.
Rutschman was given a day off Friday after he played through a right hand injury Thursday, and he seems to be feeling better ahead of Saturday's contest. Over his last 10 games, the 26-year-old backstop has gone 15-for-40 with a home run, two RBI and seven runs scored.
Cowser went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Friday.
Cowser opened the scoring with a solo home run off Max Scherzer in the fourth inning. While the young outfielder is hitting just .203 in June, he has now homered in his past three starts and has five total in the month. On the season, Cowser is hitting .231 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored and five steals in 257 plate appearances.
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Orioles' Albert Suarez: Throws six scoreless innings in win
Rotowire
Suarez (4-2) earned the win over the Rangers on Friday, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out two over six scoreless innings.
Suarez was efficient, needing just 87 pitches to toss his first quality start of the season. The righty generated only six swinging strikes, but this was a huge bounceback after he had allowed eight earned runs over his previous two outings. On the season, Suarez owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB over 59.1 innings and lines up to face the Athletics next week.
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Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Earns 18th save
Rotowire
Kimbrel earned a save against the Rangers on Friday, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Kimbrel was called upon to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning and did so with two strikeouts and a groundout. The veteran has rebounded from a blown save June 19 with two straight scoreless conversions. On the season, he is 18-for-22 in save chances with a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 44:12 K:BB over 29.1 innings.
Smith signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Friday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
The right-hander was released by the Marlins last week and didn't take long to latch on with a new organization. Smith posted a 4.25 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 29.2 innings for Miami this season, and he'll likely fill a low-leverage relief role if he gets called up by Baltimore.
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Orioles' Max Wagner: Headed to IL
Rotowire
Wagner will be placed on the injured list Friday with a lower-back injury, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Wagner will be sidelined for at least a week due to lower-back pain. In 72 plate appearances with Bowie this season, Wagner owns a .364 OPS and a 40.3 percent strikeout rate.
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Orioles' Niko Goodrum: Joins Orioles on MiLB deal
Rotowire
The Orioles agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with Goodrum on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Goodrum has bounced around since the end of last season, and the Orioles will be his fifth organization since the start of spring training. The utility infielder has a .103/.188/.103 slash line across 13 games in the majors this season.
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Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Taking seat Friday
Rotowire
Kjerstad is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers.
Kjerstad clubbed his first home run of the season in Thursday's win over the Rangers in what was his third straight start against a right-hander. However, he will begin this one on the bench versus Texas righty Max Scherzer. Colton Cowser will occupy left field for the Orioles.
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Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Absent from Baltimore lineup
Rotowire
Westburg is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Rangers.
Westburg had started each of the previous eight contests, but he'll begin this one on the bench as the Orioles face right-hander Max Scherzer. Baltimore will go with Jorge Mateo at second base and Ramon Urias at third.
