Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox Pick Center

Bet Now
O's hope rain helps Mancini get into lineup vs. White Sox A rainout Tuesday offered Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini an additional day to rest his bruised right index finger, which kept him out of the lineup for most of the past three games.Baltimore is optimistic about getting Mancini back for at least part of Wednesday's doubleheader against the host Chicago White Sox, and the Orioles undoubtedly could use the jolt.Baltimore has scored three runs or fewer in each game of its current four-game losing streak. The club has missed Mancini, who is tied for the American League lead with 39 hits, for much of that stretch."Take Trey out of our lineup ... it's obviously a blow," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters.Mancini sustained the injury during the first inning of Baltimore's Saturday loss at Minnesota. A Jose Berrios fastball hit Mancini's right hand as Mancini swung, and plate umpire Gerry Davis ruled the pitch a foul ball.Mancini singled to center field two pitches later, raising his average to .355. Moments later, he raised his left hand, too, grasping his right hand before being removed from the game.To be sure, the Orioles have experienced the effects of Mancini's absence since."I think there's some situational hitting where we haven't, either advanced a runner on second and nobody out, or score a runner on third with less than two outs; the kind of situation where we did a good job early but we've been in a bit of a funk here," Hyde said. "We're just not driving in the runs. I think those things happen, but at the same time, we have to do a better job to situational hit." Mancini told reporters after Saturday's game that he "lucked out," assessing the injury as minor, and not involving a broken finger.Hyde said before Monday's series opener against the White Sox that the team was hopeful to have Mancini return on Tuesday. If it were a pivotal game in September and not a chilly night in the season's first month, Hyde said, Mancini may have successfully lobbied to play Monday.Initially slated to oppose one another on Tuesday, White Sox right-hander Ivan Nova (0-3, 8.42 ERA) and Orioles righty Andrew Cashner (4-1, 4.18 ERA) are set to start Wednesday's nightcap.In the opener, Chicago lefty Carlos Rodon (3-2, 4.94 ERA) will face Orioles righty Davis Hess (1-4, 5.88 ERA). Pitching against the White Sox at Camden Yards on April 22, Hess took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in five innings, striking out three and walking two.Hess kept the Orioles in check before White Sox catcher James McCann delivered the big blow -- a three-run home run in a four-run fifth inning.The White Sox have won three straight and continue to enjoy the torrid start of shortstop Tim Anderson, who has entertained the home crowd with occasional bat flips following his home runs. Anderson, who is batting .375 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 23 games, homered in Monday's series opener but did nothing extravagant with his bat to celebrate the feat.This time, anyway."A lot of people don't watch baseball," Anderson told reporters. "You have to do something to draw the crowd, whether it's bat flips or whatever. That's going to get the kids into it. I think the kids like that stuff, so going to keep doing it." --Field Level Media

Looking for More Picks?

You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.

TomBartonSports.com

Latest MLB News

DynamicSportsPlays.com
SportsInformationTraders.com