Grayson Rodriguez said today that he will throw his first bullpen session next week since experiencing a setback in the middle of April in recovering from a strained lat muscle.

Rodriguez, speaking to the local media for the first time since early March in Fort Myers, also expressed confidence that he’ll pitch after the All-Star break.

“Throwing every day,” Rodriguez said of his flat ground sessions. “Right now feeling good.”

Asked about returning in 2025, Rodriguez said he doesn’t have an exact week or specific timeline, “but I’m definitely gonna pitch this year.”

Rodriguez is on the 60-day injured list. He experienced discomfort in his elbow/triceps area in camp, which robbed him of the normal velocity in his final appearance against the Twins, but he said today that he’s rehabbing only from the lat strain – his third including the summer of 2022 with Triple-A Norfolk.

“Right now it’s just the lat. We’re past all elbow stuff. We were able to get that handled,” he said.

“Right now it’s just focusing on the lat, trying to figure out exactly what might be causing it, whether it’s mechanical or something we’re doing in the weight room or something prep-wise. Right now just trying to figure out exactly what’s causing it.”

The same injury caused Rodriguez to be shut down last summer after a July 31 start and prevented him from making the Wild Card roster.

“This one is similar to last year, so very minor,” Rodriguez said. “Then again, you don’t want it to happen again because then it can turn into something bigger. So right now just trying to figure out why it keeps happening and how I can eliminate it in the future.”

But how?

“A lot of writing down, trying to figure out exactly what you did, whether it’s biomechanics stuff or it just goes back to a prep routine, trying to get warmed up or a weight lifting type of deal," he said. "Everything’s on the table. Just trying to narrow it down and figure out why it keeps happening.”

Rodriguez had to cancel a bullpen session due to the discomfort in his lat, which led to another shutdown period and having to start over with his progression.

“It wasn’t while I was throwing, which, that’s good,” he said. “I can’t really put a specific pitch or specific bullpen or something on it. Just kind of feel it creeping up just a little bit.”

The Orioles expected Rodriguez to be their No. 2 starter this season behind Zach Eflin, but career momentum was lost again due to his health.

“It’s tough,” he said. “Mentally, that’s probably the hardest part is not being able to be out there with the guys. You show up every day and you want to play. And then when you’re on the IL, it’s just the worst thing. We have a lot of good guys in this clubhouse that want to help me through it. But yeah, it’s definitely tough.

“I’d say mentally, it’s pretty hard, just being able to show up and know you’re not going to pitch this week, something like that. But just I guess grinding through it is all you can do and just focus on getting better to get back out there.”

The Orioles sent Rodriguez for another MRI after his setback, the last one that he’s undergone. He blamed faulty mechanics for the dip in velocity in Fort Myers and a feeling that he described as “sluggish.”

“I think my body wasn’t necessarily moving right, and right now, the point I’m at is a lot better than where I was at that moment,” he said. “So I’m pretty confident in what I’m doing and looking to get back out there pretty quick.”

Interim manager Tony Mansolino said today that there’s “optimism in the building” that Rodriguez will pitch for the Orioles later this summer. And Rodriguez still believes that he can live up to expectations that accompany a first-round draft pick. He’s shown in spurts that he can be an ace.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I think that’s probably one of the tough parts about it. Obviously, you can’t ever figure baseball out, and if you say you figured it out it will humble you really quick. But my confidence was really high. I think that’s one thing I struggle having to deal with is knowing that I’m where I want to be right now, but not being able to go out there and pitch every five days just really just kills me.”

Tonight’s lineup doesn't include Colton Cowser due to some soreness caused by crashing into the fence last night. Cowser stayed in the game, but the Orioles are being careful with him.

Mansolino said there’s a chance that Cowser could be available off the bench.

Jackson Holliday’s career-long 14-game on-base streak was snapped last night. He returns to the leadoff spot tonight. Jordan Westburg is on the bench.

Maverick Handley is catching Charlie Morton. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter. 

Gunnar Henderson owns a 1.260 OPS against the Angels, his highest against any opponent.

Coby Mayo isn't in the lineup. His groundout in the fifth inning last night had a 109.7 mph exit velocity, the hardest-hit ball of his career.

Morton got on a nice roll with four earned runs (five total) allowed in 22 innings over five appearances, but he surrendered four runs and six hits with four walks in 2 1/3 innings in Sacramento. He made a relief appearance in Anaheim on May 10 and retired all six batters.

Morton has a 3.60 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in 13 career games (12 starts) against the Angels. Luis Rengifo is 4-for-10 with a home run, Mike Trout is 3-for-15 with a home run, and Jorge Soler 3-for-19 with a double and homer.

Morton’s ERA is 9.58 in seven games with Rutschman catching, 8.10 in two games with Gary Sánchez and 3.55 in seven games with Handley.

The Orioles are 5-14-3 in series play and 10-12 in series openers.

The Angels are in a second-place tie with the Mariners in the American League West with a 33-34 record after sweeping a three-game series against the Athletics and winning five of their last six games and seven of 10. The Orioles won two of three last month in Anaheim.

Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, who starts tonight, earned the lone win for the Angels after holding the Orioles to one run in 5 2/3 innings. Morton covered the last two innings after Kyle Gibson, Colin Selby and Cionel Pérez, who aren’t with the team anymore.

Kochanowicz has allowed four earned runs in each of his last four starts.

The Orioles opened the 2024 season by winning two of three from the Angels at Camden Yards. They’ve won or split eight consecutive series against them since August 2021.

For the Orioles

Jackson Holliday 2B
Adley Rutschman DH
Gunnar Henderson SS
Ryan O'Hearn 1B
Ramón Laureano RF
Cedric Mullins CF
Ramón Urías 3B
Dylan Carlson LF
Maverick Handley C

For the Angels

Zach Neto SS
Nolan Schanuel 1B
Mike Trout DH
Jorge Soler RF
Logan O’Hoppe C
Jo Adell CF
LaMonte Wade Jr. LF
Luis Rengifo 3B
Christian Moore 2B

Jack Kochanowicz RHP

Tonight’s game airs exclusively on Apple TV+.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is out of Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup again tonight with soreness in his left shoulder.

Right-handers Braxton Bragg (right forearm strain), Trace Bright (right forearm strain) and Levi Wells (right shoulder inflammation) have been placed on Double-A Chesapeake’s seven-day injured list. None of them are expected to miss significant time.

Catcher/infielder Creed Willems was removed from Chesapeake’s game last night as a precaution after being hit in the head with a backswing.