Orioles’ Mountcastle returns to lineup; Mancini getting closer

Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini, who was hit in the right elbow with a pitch Thursday against the Chicago, could be back in the lineup Sunday or Monday, manager Brandon Hyde said before Saturday’s doubleheader against the White Sox.

Ryan Mountcastle, who also was out after being hit on the left hand with a pitch Tuesday in Minnesota, is back in the lineup, serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles are trying to end a 10-game losing streak.

“Trey’s improving,” Hyde said. “He’s not quite ready for me to put him in the lineup yet. We’re hoping maybe tomorrow or the next day. He’s going to play sore, also. It drilled him pretty good there on the elbow.”

Mancini dropped to the ground in the batter’s box after he was hit with a 95-mph fastball from Chicago’s Dylan Cease. X-rays were negative, and Mancini escaped with a bruise.

“I think if this was later in the year and we were contending, playing in a big game postseason-wise, he’d be knocking down the door to be in the lineup, but right now, late May, he’s just not ready,” Hyde said.

Mancini is batting .278/.352/.524 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 42 RBIs.

Mountcastle has a bruised left hand but is healthy enough to play after missing the previous two games.

“He feels good enough to give it a try,” Hyde said. “Really encouraged by that, give him a lot of credit for understanding our situation and playing banged up. Shows me a lot about him and his character of trying to be a pro. He’s still sore, but he’s going to try.”

Mountcastle is batting .228/.258/.353 with four home runs and 16 RBIs.

Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. has been added as the 27th man for the doubleheader. He is 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA and 1.636 WHIP in 16 appearances with the Orioles this season.