Thursday afternoon Orioles spring training game thread: vs. Twins

There are three weeks to go until the Orioles regular season begins. A lot of decisions are going to be made between now and then as to how to make up the roster and who will be on it. No one spring game, or even the whole of spring training, is going to single-handedly propel anyone on or off the roster, but everyone will try to put his best foot forward every day anyway.

The O’s will be on 105.7 in Baltimore this afternoon as they take on the Twins in the O’s spring home in Sarasota - not that you’d know it’s a spring home game from who is in the starting lineup today:

1. Hanser Alberto - SS
2. Dilson Herrera - 2B
3. Chris Davis - 1B
4. Ryan Mountcastle - LF
5. Rio Ruiz - 3B
6. Jose Rondon - DH
7. Yusniel Diaz - RF
8. Bryan Holaday - C
9. Cedric Mullins - CF

Keegan Akin is the starting pitcher. Rule 5 pick Brandon Bailey was originally scheduled. Manager Brandon Hyde said Bailey is fine physically. Other pitchers expected to appear: Dean Kremer, Mychal Givens, Hunter Harvey, Tanner Scott, and Cole Sulser.

Among the injury updates provided to Orioles beat writers this afternoon: Jose Iglesias had a quad cramp yesterday that’s cleared up, though he’s still not in this lineup. Tommy Milone is still waiting to be cleared to throw a sim game after dealing with some neck soreness. Austin Wynns said it’s “just precautions” keeping him out after taking a foul ball to the groin on Monday.

More concerning, Evan Phillips is dealing with some elbow soreness. He had an MRI that came back OK, but is getting a second opinion.

One guy who’s working his way back is pitcher Kohl Stewart, who had some biceps soreness and hasn’t pitched in a spring game yet. He’s expected to make his debut on Sunday.