Mateo lands on injured list with elbow inflammation

To reduce the deficit faced by the Orioles in the division and in the Wild Card standings, they always believed that they’d need to cut back on the number of players on their injured list.

They won’t pin every problem on their health, but it’s conspired against them again in 2025.

The IL count was down to eight with infielder Jordan Westburg and center fielder Cedric Mullins returning to the active roster earlier today. It grew to nine by tonight’s first pitch with the inclusion of infielder Jorge Mateo, who is bothered by left elbow inflammation. Mateo’s IL assignment is backdated to Saturday.

The Orioles selected the contract of infielder Luis Vázquez, who appeared in 11 games with the Cubs last season and was slashing .280/.345/.447 in 37 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He was a spring training standout with his .325 average, 10 RBIs and .788 OPS in 21 games.

Mateo’s experienced discomfort in the elbow since his May 31 collision with Heston Kjerstad, who was optioned earlier today. Their arms slammed together in right-center field and Mateo took the brunt of it, on the elbow that underwent reconstructive surgery last season.

An MRI didn’t show any structural damage in the elbow, but his timeline to return is undetermined.

Mateo is batting .180/.231/.279 in 31 games. He’s out of minor league options and seemed to be on shakier ground as more players returned from the injured list. Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sánchez are expected back by the next road trip.

This evening’s roster move likely puts Vázquez on borrowed time.

Also, reliever Matt Bowman cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Norfolk.

The Orioles reinstated outfielders Colton Cowser and Ramón Laureano, Westburg and Mullins over the past nine days. Interim manager Tony Mansolino shares in the excitement.

“I think everybody is. I think everybody in Baltimore is excited, and we’re still missing a couple, and then we’re still missing pitching, too. Guys who, hopefully, come back here at some point down the road,” he said.

“But whenever you’ve got two guys who walk in like Jordan and Ced, you feel great. At some point here in however many days, you’ll see Gary and you’ll see T.O., and we’ll feel even better.”

Mansolino described Westburg, who had a strained hamstring, as “the glue to this whole thing.” The quote was relayed today to Westburg, with a reporter wondering how he’d reply to Mansolino.

“I’d call him a liar to his face,” Westburg quipped.

“No, it’s flattering, certainly. I’m more into trying to keep the spotlight off myself and not think too highly of myself, so for somebody who’s manning the ship right now, and we have a very good relationship, it means a lot. It makes you feel good about yourself. It makes you feel like you’re wanted and somewhat needed in this clubhouse and it’s a good place to be. It makes you feel comfortable. And I’m happy to play for that guy.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy right now to handle the situation that we’ve been put in. Looking forward to playing for him again.”

What does Westburg’s response to the glue remark tell Mansolino?

“That he is the glue,” Mansolino replied.

“There you go, there’s your answer. Anybody who can answer it that way, I think there’s a lot of humility and humbleness in that answer. And I think major league teammates and staff and people in the city of Baltimore probably gravitate toward that type of blue collar personality.”

Mullins is the designated hitter tonight. He hadn’t played since May 28 due to a hamstring strain.

“It kind of lined up with what I thought,” he said. “Just kind of the feeling was not a pull, strain. More achy and crampy, so talking to Mano and the training staff and just go ahead and give me my days. Feels healthy now, feels good to go.

“I think the team’s playing good this past week. I watched all the games. Guys looked competitive, pulled out some wins, good road trip. Guys getting healthy is always good for the sake of the team, sake of morale, things like that. I expect us to go out there and compete the same way.”

Westburg’s hamstring strain kept him out since April 26 and forced him into an eight-game rehab assignment with Norfolk. He's playing third base tonight.

“It’s way too long on the IL for my liking,” he said. “I was itching to play some baseball again, so happy to be here. A month was a long time to go without some baseball, so early on I felt I was starting all over again, but towards the end of the week there I was starting to feel a lot better. I feel like I’m in a good spot, physically.”

Westburg’s return was delayed by a setback that kept him out of workouts with Norfolk and pushed back his assignment.

“I don’t think I was ready to handle the workload we had planned out,” he said. “The blame is not on anybody. Just sometimes those things happen with the soft-tissue stuff. It sucked, but happy that I’m here now.”