Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said initial projections have catcher Gary Sánchez missing eight to 10 weeks with a right knee sprain.

Sánchez, who’s on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday, met with doctors earlier today.

“There’s always a scenario where it could go really good for Gary and it can be a little earlier,” Mansolino said, “but I think initial estimates are probably that.”

Sánchez missed more than six weeks with right wrist inflammation. He was 18-for-61 (.295) with five home runs since returning to the active roster.

“It is gonna be tough,” Mansolino said. “He’s been swinging the bat so good. He’s carried us. He hit a lot of big homers, carried us in a lot of ways."

The Orioles have 14 players on the IL. They trim the total and it swells again.

“I don’t think we’ve been a full strength yet this year," Mansolino said. "If you go back and look at spring training and not having Gunnar (Henderson) the initial weeks. It’s just kind of the hand that we’re drawn and we’re gonna continue to compete with it.”

Adley Rutschman, on the 10-day IL retroactive to June 20 with a left oblique strain, took some dry swings today. There’s no ball involved but the intensity level is “fairly decent,” Mansolino said.

“From there, he’ll progress to, probably, a flip, probably do a sit-down overhand, then BP and off he goes,” Mansolino said. “In my past, once they start swinging the bat, it takes off a little bit, but those initial first couple days, you’ve got to make sure that soreness doesn’t come back.”

Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are rehabbing in Sarasota as they attempt to return in the second half from reconstructive elbow surgery. Bradish has thrown two live batting practice sessions and is progressing to a multi-up live, followed by game action if he can check the necessary boxes. Wells should throw his first live BP within the next few days.

Albert Suárez, on the 60-day IL with a strained right shoulder, is playing catch and said he’ll throw his first bullpen session by the end of the week.

Asked about making progress, he smiled and said, “Feeling good is progress.”

Brandon Young makes his fifth major league start tonight. He’s posted a 7.02 ERA and 1.980 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings. He hasn’t gone more than 4 2/3 innings.

The Orioles are averaging 4.89 runs per game in 38 games with Jordan Westburg in the lineup and 3.63 in 51 without him, per STATS. Since Westburg’s major league debut on June 26, 2023, the Orioles have averaged 5.03 runs per game with him and 4.30 without him.

The Orioles will try to move eight games below .500 for the first time since May 6. Their opponents are batting .194 in the ninth inning or later this season, lowest in the majors.

The lineup hasn’t been posted.

Right-hander Clay Holmes, converted back to a starter in his first season with the Mets, is 8-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 17 games. He’s allowed more than three earned runs only twice. Holmes has surrendered 14 runs in his last eight starts over 44 2/3 innings for an 2.82 ERA.

Opponents are batting .111 against Holmes with runners in scoring position, lowest in the majors with a minimum 70 batters.

Holmes has gone at least four innings and allowed four runs or fewer in all 17 starts to begin his career with the Mets. The only Mets starters with longer streaks are Max Scherzer (24) and Dillon Gee (18), per STATS.

Holmes faced the Orioles 22 times as a reliever, posting a 1.11 ERA with three earned runs in 24 1/3 innings and recording 10 saves. The three runs came in back-to-back appearances last season at Yankee Stadium.

Holmes hasn’t allowed an earned run in 10 appearances at Camden Yards totaling 12 2/3 innings, but he did cause a bench-clearing incident on July 12, 2024 after hitting Heston Kjerstad on the batting helmet.

Juan Soto is the only player in major league history to reach 800 career walks before his 27^th birthday. Mickey Mantle had 799.

Soto is a career .298/.428/.511 hitter with five doubles, two triples, seven home runs , 22 RBIs 32 walks and 23 strikeouts in 40 games against the Orioles, and a .329/.430/.575 hitter in 20 games at Camden Yards.

The Mets are 33-14 at home and 19-25 on the road. They won six in a row June 6-12, lost seven in a row and 10 of 11, and followed a four-game losing streak with four wins in a row before the Yankees beat them Sunday.

For the Mets

Brandon Nimmo LF
Francisco Lindor SS
Juan Soto RF
Pete Alonso 1B
Jesse Winker DH
Jeff McNeil CF
Luis Torrens C
Ronny Mauricio 3B
Brett Baty 2B

Clay Holmes RHP