BOSTON – Adley Rutschman was scratched from tonight’s Orioles lineup with right abdominal discomfort.
Rutschman didn’t play last night, with Samuel Basallo making his first start behind the plate. Alex Jackson is catching tonight.
The lineup shuffling has Jackson batting ninth and third baseman Luis Vázquez moving up from eighth to second.
Jordan Westburg was limping in the clubhouse earlier today and had a walking boot at his locker. He exited last night’s game in the first inning after twisting his right ankle.
So far, he's avoided the injured list. Interim manager Tony Mansolino will provide an update later.
The Orioles optioned outfielder Jordyn Adams earlier today to make room for Daniel Johnson, a waiver claim yesterday from the Giants.
Johnson had one at-bat with the Orioles in 2024. He was 5-for-29 with the Giants this season.
Adams is 0-for-5 in 10 games with the Orioles and was used more for defense.
Albert Suárez is making his first injury rehab start tonight with Double-A Chesapeake. He hasn’t pitched for the Orioles since his lone appearance on March 28 in Toronto.
Johnson isn’t in tonight’s lineup against the Mariners at Camden Yards. Ryan Noda is in right field, Dylan Carlson in left and Greg Allen in center. Carlson is trying to snap an 0-for-35 streak.
PHILADELPHIA – The Orioles reinstated left-hander Cade Povich from the injured list today and he gets the ball to start a three-game series against the Phillies.
That wasn’t the only move.
Infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján was activated and he’s wearing No. 40. The Orioles claimed him yesterday.
The counter moves were optioning reliever Houston Roth and outfielder Jordyn Adams. Roth didn’t make his major league debut before departing.
Povich has a 5.15 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 13 games (12 starts). His only relief appearance came on June 15, with 3 2/3 scoreless innings before going on the IL with left hip inflammation.
The Orioles filled the remaining openings on their roster this morning by selecting the contract of outfielder Jordyn Adams from Triple-A Norfolk and infielder Terrin Vavra from Double-A Chesapeake and recalling infielder Luis Vázquez from Norfolk.
The trio joins infielder Jeremiah Jackson and reliever Yaramil Hiraldo, who were recalled last night.
Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Ramón Laureano will be by their absences from today’s lineup against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Jordan Westburg has nine hits and seven runs scored over his last three games. He's likely the starting third baseman.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers has registered a 1.49 ERA and 0.786 WHIP in eight starts.
The Orioles have reinstated outfielder Ramón Laureano from the 10-day injured list and designated outfielder Jordyn Adams for assignment.
Laureano sprained his left ankle in Milwaukee. He homered yesterday for Triple-A Norfolk in Louisville in his second rehab game. He’s batting .266/.320/.532 with seven doubles and six homers with the Orioles.
Adams was used as a defensive replacement, his only at-bat coming yesterday.
Jordan Westburg and Gary Sánchez also homered yesterday for Norfolk and should be nearing returns.
The bullpen will undergo another change. The Orioles acquired Scott Blewett from the Braves today for cash considerations.
Ryan Mountcastle received an MRI this morning on his injured right hamstring and the Orioles are waiting for the results before offering an update and measuring their level of encouragement that his absence will be brief.
Mountcastle stole home last night in the sixth inning and was removed in the eighth.
“Don’t know the severity just yet,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “Hopeful is probably the better word. Just hopeful that it’s not too bad, but we’ll probably find out more later today or tomorrow.”
Mansolino isn’t sure how Mountcastle sustained the injury, but the double steal seemed to be a part of it.
“I just saw him in the hallway, we were meeting on something earlier, so I haven’t asked him,” Mansolino said. “He might have told somebody last night that he was maybe getting up from the slide. He might have felt something. So it’s just unsure.”
The Orioles placed Ryan Mountcastle on the 10-day injured this this morning with a right hamstring strain and recalled corner infielder Coby Mayo.
That wasn’t the extent of the changes.
Outfielder Jordyn Adams had his contract selected and he’s wearing No. 80. Catcher Chadwick Tromp was designated for assignment.
Mountcastle exited last night’s game in the top of the eighth inning, after stealing home in a 2-1 win over the White Sox. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Mountcastle would be re-evaluated this morning.
A roster battered by injuries can’t get healthy.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Jordyn Adams had a choice to make and he doesn’t regret the outcome.
Adams committed to the University of North Carolina to play baseball and football. He was a four- or five-star recruit as a wide receiver, depending on the source, but Major League Baseball viewed him as one of the top prospects in the 2018 draft.
The first decision for Adams involved picking a college, and the North Carolina native chose the Tar Heels over Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and Clemson. Still to come was whether to immerse himself in campus life or join a team’s farm system.
Adams never stepped foot on campus as a student. The Angels made him the 17th overall pick, and the common perception was that he’d need to go in the first or maybe the second round to catch fly balls in center field instead of footballs on the gridiron.
The result so far is 28 games with the Angels over the past two seasons and a .176/.205/.216 slash line. He can play everywhere in the outfield and he’s hoping to play for the Orioles in 2025 after signing a minor league contract on Dec. 23.