Sunday afternoon Orioles spring training game thread: vs. Yankees

With eleven days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles have finally deployed what looks to be the bulk of a lineup that they might actually use at the start of the season. It is probably a coincidence that this is happening for the first time on one of the few televised games of spring training. This afternoon’s contest will be on both MASN and the Orioles Radio Network.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that, with this morning’s round of roster cuts sending down both Austin Hays and Anthony Santander, that almost-Opening Day-looking lineup sets up like this:

1. Cedric Mullins - CF
2. Jonathan Villar - 2B
3. Mark Trumbo - DH
4. Chris Davis - 1B
5. Trey Mancini - LF
6. Rio Ruiz - 3B
7. Joey Rickard - RF
8. Richie Martin - SS
9. Jesus Sucre - C

For all I know, this is the exact Opening Day lineup. I suspect it could be eight of these nine players, maybe in a different order, maybe with Chance Sisco replacing Sucre.

It has been apparent for a couple of years that the O’s were probably going to be bad this year. We’ve had time to prepare. The reality is not any more fun to contemplate just because things are turning out as expected.

Mike Wright Jr., possible season-opening fourth starter, is the starting pitcher for this contest. He’s expected to be followed by Pedro Araujo, Miguel Castro, and Paul Fry, not necessarily in that order.