Monday night Orioles game thread: at Yankees, 6:35

The Orioles are on pace to win 162 games. Take that as you will. Outfielder Austin Hays will not play in all of those victories after being sidelined with a sore hamstring. The Orioles placed Hays on the 10-day Injured List shortly before today’s game. Hays will be replaced by outfielder Ryan McKenna.

McKenna is set to make his major league debut while batting ninth and playing right field. The 24-year-old checks in at number 15 in MLB.com’s ranking of Orioles’ prospects. Baltimore selected McKenna in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. He’s an easy choice to replace Hays after already being with the club’s taxi squad in New York. His speed and ability to play all three outfield spots are both viewed as assets. McKenna will wear number 65.

The Orioles also activated reliever Shawn Armstrong from the injured list (a move in name only after he was transferred from the paternity list). Cole Sulser, who struck out three and allowed just one hit during two innings of relief yesterday, was optioned to the alternate site.

Cedric Mullins will lead off and remain in center field. Yesterday’s performance will be tough to top, but the Orioles will take any production from the left-handed hitter. Trey Mancini will follow and serve as the designated hitter, with Ryan Mountcastle forced into left field. Anthony Santander has the day off.

Maikel Franco will bat cleanup and handle the hot corner, but Ramon Urías will replace Rio Ruiz at second base. Pat Valaika will bat sixth and play first base. It’s amazing how one missing piece can shuffle the lineup. The club will keep Freddy Galvis at short and Pedro Severino behind the plate for some sense of normalcy.

Jorge López will take the ball in the Orioles fourth game of the season. López entered camp as a bit of a question mark, but he’s found his way to the rotation. Baltimore claimed López off waivers from Kansas City last August, and the 28-year-old pitched to a 2-2 record with a 6.34 ERA.

López begins the season as the Baltimore pitcher facing the most amount of pressure. The Orioles have been charmed by his potential, but he is out of options. With Keegan Akin and a fresh crop of starters waiting at the alternative site, not to mention Adam Plutko lurking in the bullpen, López must perform early to keep his spot on the roster.

The Orioles will face Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery posted a 2-3 record and 5.11 ERA through 10 starts last season. Gleyber Torres is in the lineup for the Yankees.

Can the first place Orioles keep this thing going?

Orioles lineup

1. Mullins CF
2. Mancini DH
3. Mountcastle LF
4. Franco 3B
5. Severino C
6. Valaika 1B
7. Galvis SS
8. Urias 2B
9. McKenna RF

Starter: RHP Jorge López

Yankees lineup

1. DJ LeMahieu 2B
2. Aaron Judge RF
3. Aaron Hicks CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton DH
5. Gleyber Torres SS
6. Gary Sanchez C
7. Jay Bruce 1B
8. Gio Urshela 3B
9. Clint Frazier LF

Starter: LHP Jordan Montgomery