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The Orioles are back on television in Baltimore this afternoon, which will make this particular spring training game feel a little bit less fake than most of them do. Since it is a home spring game, that also means the lineup has a lot of regulars, as well. Enjoy this one if you can, because the O’s won’t be back on MASN after today until next Sunday evening.
It’s not a totally Opening Day-looking lineup because of the forearm issue that currently has Chris Davis sidelined. At present, the Orioles are indicating that it’s not serious and that he’ll be back in three to five days. If that continues as they currently say, he will be back in action by the end of the week.
The Davis absence means a little time for newly-signed (to a minor league deal) Danny Valencia to show what he has to offer. Valencia said he’s either going to make the big league club or become a free agent again.
It’s tough to see a path for him to make it, short of an injury to someone, but the Orioles can get creative if they really want to. Maybe they can treat Tim Beckham as the backup shortstop even if he’s also the starting third baseman, giving Valencia a role as a bench bat and utility infielder of sorts.
Anyway, here’s today’s starting lineup against the Red Sox:
- Tim Beckham - 3B
- Jonathan Schoop - 2B
- Manny Machado - SS
- Adam Jones - CF
- Trey Mancini - LF
- Mark Trumbo - 1B
- Danny Valencia - DH
- Joey Rickard - RF
- Caleb Joseph - C
That’s what it will look like for the first few innings, at least. Gabriel Ynoa is the starting pitcher, for as much as that’s worth this early in spring training when a guy is going deep if he pitches three innings. Manager Buck Showalter told Orioles reporters earlier on Sunday that none of the fifth starter competitors have “separated themselves negatively” as of this point in time - an assessment with which some fans might disagree.