Norris gets nod for Tigers vs. Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are looking at a lot of players down the stretch. Manager Brandon Hyde wouldn't mind if he keeps everyone involved at any point of the season in the future.

Hyde likes the idea of platooning at several positions.

"I think that there's a lot of value to that, and it's all about your roster and what you have on your roster," he told the Baltimore Sun. "If you have that type of roster, I think it's great. But a lot of teams don't."

The Orioles will play the second game of a four-game series in Detroit on Saturday and the Tigers will go with Daniel Norris (3-12, 4.72 ERA) as their starter.

With a lefty on the mound, Hyde is likely to stack his lineup with right-handed hitters and then adjust as the game goes long.

Infielders Jonathan Villar, Hanser Alberto and Renato Nunez and outfielders Trey Mancini and Hanser Alberto have emerged as regulars in Hyde's lineup. He's mixed and match at other spots.

"A lot of guys, whenever you come up, that's going to be your situation," Mancini told the Sun after driving in three runs in Baltimore's 6-2 win on Friday. "You're going to be platooning, mostly against lefties or righties depending on who you hit better. As time goes on, if you hit, you're going to play and you're going to be in the lineup."

One of those players is the surprising Alberto, who is batting .318. He sat out the series opener.

"Look at what Hanser has done this year," Mancini said. "He started out playing against lefties and not even all the time at the beginning of the season. He was definitely our utility guy off the bench, and he's competing for a batting title right now. You look at that, and he just completely took hold of his opportunities and went out there and made himself an everyday major league baseball player."

Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa (1-8, 5.79 ERA), Baltimore's scheduled starter, gave up two homers during a two-inning relief appearance against Texas on Sunday.

He pitched well in his last start on Sept. 3, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay.

Ynoa faced the Tigers on May 27 and allowed two runs in four innings.

Baltimore won the game 5-3 but he wound up with a no-decision.

Ynoa is one of many Baltimore pitchers plagued by the home run ball. He's given up 24 in just 96 1/3 innings. He's been taken deep 15 times in 10 starts.

Norris is on a strict innings limit and has tossed exactly three innings in each of his last six starts.

He held the Oakland Athletics to one run on one hit Sunday, his last outing. He's 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA against the Orioles in five career appearances (three starts).

Infielder Jordy Mercer continues to be the Tigers' hottest hitter. He had three hits on Friday, raising his average to .440 this month. He had a .342 average in August despite spotty playing time.

"He's a veteran. He knows how to put the bat on the ball," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He just goes about his business, works really hard and prepares to play all over the place."

--Field Level Media