BALTIMORE—José Barrero is in the Orioles’ lineup at second base for Monday night’s game. Barrero will be the 60th player used by the team.

Barrero is with the Orioles because two players, Blaze Alexander and Jackson Holliday, are on the 10-day injured list.

Alexander, who became the father of a baby girl on Thursday, is back with the Orioles but isn’t ready to be activated from the IL. He has lower back discomfort.

“Blaze was out yesterday taking ground balls,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Low back still tight, but also he was sleeping in an uncomfortable spot in the hospital. He’s doing more today, and it’s going to be day-to-day to see where he’s at.”

Albernaz said that he thinks that Alexander will play before the season ends..

“I fee like Blaze will be back by the end of the year, but we have to take it day-by-day.”

Holliday, who is on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation, is eligible to return on Friday when the Orioles begin their final series of the season at Yankee Stadium, but he’s unlikely do so.”

“He’s getting more looks and options of what’s going on with the wrist,” Albernaz said. “We’ll have more information, probably end of the week, next couple of days.”

Albernaz looks ahead

The Orioles are scheduled to play three games against Toronto and, after a Thursday offday, play three more games at Yankee Stadium to end the regular season.

Their elimination number is two. They can be eliminated with a combination of a loss to the Blue Jays and a win by Chicago on Tuesday. The White Sox don’t play on Monday.

“There’s still not an E next to our name,” Albernaz said. “We have to go out there and win games and even if we were completely out of it, we still have to go out and win games. We all have to learn what that process is, for all of us moving forward. These games are extremely valuable to set up the offseason and to set up going into next year.

“You never like the mindset of these games don’t mean anything. That doesn’t ring true at all to me. Every game, there’s something to learn, something to prove and something to really catapult into the offseason and to the following year.”

Albernaz seeks higher standards

After Sunday night’s game, Albernaz was critical of Jeremiah Jackson for swinging at the first pitch after Milwaukee right-hander Chad Patrick had loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by pitch.

“Everyone’s goals should be winning that game today,” Albernaz said. “Everyone has to have the wherewithal and mindset of what that takes, and for me, it’s something where I needed to be better at is communicating that with the group and the players, and that’s something where the standard is going to be high.

“The record (75-81) that we have is not what we wanted by any stretch of the imagination, and that’s something where every area has to get better. It’s not just the players. It’s literally every area has to make adjustments because the record is not where we want, and the expectations and the standards are never going to change.

“We have to go out there and win baseball games. For us, for the city, for the fans. That’s something I feel strongly about. The process is already going in that direction. Is that going improve wins? No, we also have to go out there and play and perform, but ultimately it’s a nonstop reassessment  and evaluation of everyone of where we’re at.”

Orioles-Blue Jays lineups

Dylan Beavers-LF

Pete Alonso-1B

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Coby Mayo-DH

Christian Encarnacion-Strand-3B

Samuel Basallo-C

Rece Hinds-RF

Colton Cowser-CF

José Barrero-2B

Shane Baz-RHP

Blue Jays

Brett Bateman-CF

Alejandro Kirk-C

Nathan Lukes-RF

George Springer-DH

Sean Keys-1B

Kazuma Okamoto-3B

Josh Smith-LF

Andrés Giménez-SS

Ernie Clement-2B

Trey Yesavage-RHP

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