Starting Wednesday, newly acquired outfielder Steve Pearce is back as a fixture in the Orioles lineup against left-handed pitching, owing it to his .377 batting average against opposite-side pitching before he returned to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, in inserting Pearce and reserve outfielder Nolan Reimold into the lineup against Texas Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, the Orioles are taking out two of their hottest hitters — outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and designated hitter Pedro Alvarez.
Both are doing their damage almost exclusively off right-handed pitching, and manager Buck Showalter said there has been consideration given to hitting either Kim or Alvarez against left-handers.