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Ward is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Yankees.
It's the first day off this season for Ward, who is in a mini slump with just two hits over his last seven games (though he does have a 9:5 BB:K over that stretch). Colton Cowser will start in left field and bat seventh while Ward grabs a breather.
Ward went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Guardians.
Ward provided Baltimore's biggest offensive moment, launching a three-run homer off Joey Cantillo in the fifth inning to get the Orioles on the board. It was his first home run of the season after hitting 36 and 25 in his previous two campaigns. While the balls aren't clearing the fence, Ward has been one of the more productive hitters in the league, leading MLB with 11 doubles while slashing .295/.388/.455 with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored across 103 plate appearances in his first season with Baltimore.
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Guardians' Joey Cantillo: Falls apart after strong opening
Rotowire
Cantillo did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Orioles, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings.
Cantillo was in control early, holding Baltimore to just two hits through four innings, but unraveled in the fifth. He allowed the first two batters to reach before Taylor Ward launched a three-run homer to left, and additional traffic forced his exit before he could complete the inning. The rough frame was an outlier compared to his strong start to the season, where he fanned 24 across 20.2 innings. Despite the stumble, Cantillo still owns a 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 30:12 K:BB across 25.1 innings and is lined up to face Toronto in his next outing.
Ward went 4-for-5 with three doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.
The veteran outfielder is still looking for his first homer as a member of the Orioles, but he's been doing plenty of damage nonetheless. Through 12 games to begin the season, Ward is slashing .383/.464/.574 with an astounding nine doubles, five runs and eight RBI with an 8:11 BB:K.
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Orioles' Taylor Ward: Reaches base three times
Rotowire
Ward went 1-for-3 with a double, one RBI and two walks in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Pirates.
The Orioles' leadoff man continues to showcase his on-base skills early on this season, as he's now slashing .333/.424/.444 across 33 plate appearances. Ward is still looking for his first home run with Baltimore, but he's doubled three times with five RBI, two runs scored and a 5:7 BB:K through seven appearances.
Ward went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored during Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Rangers.
Tuesday marks the first time that Ward has logged four hits in a game, and his impressive display of hitting puts him at a .300 batting average (6-for-20) through the first five games of the season. He's unlikely to continue at that pace after batting just .228 last year, but he should be able to make up for it once he rediscovers his power stroke.
Ward will start in left field and bat leadoff in Thursday's opener against the Twins.
Jackson Holliday (hand) is likely to bat leadoff when he returns to action, but it will be Ward at the top of the batting order on Opening Day as the Twins send righty Joe Ryan to the hill. Ward sported a .425 on-base percentage for the Orioles during spring training, logging more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven).
