Rutschman beginning rehab assignment (plus lineups)

The Orioles are owed some good news on the health front, and it’s arriving from the minors.

Catcher Adley Rutschman and pitchers DL Hall and Rico Garcia are joining the high Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds this week, with the first game played Tuesday night against Jersey Shore at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

Rutschman, the No. 1 or 2 prospect in baseball depending on which outlet is posting the rankings, and Garcia are on minor league injury rehab assignments. Hall, the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect, is continuing his progression.  

Most of the attention falls upon Rutschman, who recovered from a strained right triceps sustained early in camp. His major league debut is fast approaching, but he’ll need to stop at a few other affiliates.

Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021 before signing a minor league deal with the Orioles.

Hall is fine physically and just building up his innings after making only seven starts last summer with Double-A Bowie. He was shut down with a stress reaction in his left elbow, but struck out two batters this spring in a perfect inning against the Phillies in Clearwater, his fastball reaching 100 mph.

The games Tuesday through Friday begin at 7:05 p.m. Saturday’s game starts at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s at 2:05 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Orioles conclude the West Coast portion of their road trip today and attempt to complete their first three-game sweep of the Angels in Anaheim since 2010.

Chris Owings is starting at second base. Austin Hays is in left field and Anthony Santander is in right.

Santander has reached base in the first 15 games, the longest streak in the majors and longest by an Oriole to begin a season since Manny Machado (17) in 2017.

Chris Ellis tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first start. In his only career start against the Angels, he allowed three runs and five hits in three innings at Camden Yards, and Jared Walsh homered.

The starters have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 straight games.

Reliever Joey Krehbiel hasn’t allowed an earned run in 8 1/3 innings. Jorge López has four saves, including two in the series.

The Orioles are 6-9 overall and 5-4 in their last nine games.

Angels left-hander José Suarez has allowed five runs and seven hits and walked seven batters in 8 2/3 innings. He’s made one career start against the Orioles, as a rookie in 2019, and allowed two runs and four hits with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

That was the famous 16-inning game in Anaheim, with utility player Stevie Wilkerson earning the win in relief. The Orioles used nine pitchers before him, starting with Jimmy Yacabonis.

Mike Trout set a franchise record last night with his 21^st career multi-homer game.

For the Orioles

Cedric Mullins CF
Trey Mancini DH
Anthony Santander RF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Austin Hays LF
Robinson Chirinos C
Jorge Mateo SS
Kelvin Gutiérrez 3B
Chris Owings 2B 

Chris Ellis RHP

Bowie’s Gunnar Henderson has homered in back-to-back games, with exit velocities of 112 and 108 mph.

Dylan Harris, who joined the Baysox to replace injured Toby Welk, has gone 9-for-16 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Triple-A Norfolk’s Tyler Nevin has collected three hits in three of his last eight games.

Left-hander Nick Vespi has tossed seven scoreless innings with three hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts.

For the Angels

Shohei Ohtani DH
Mike Trout CF
Anthony Rendon 3B
Jared Walsh 1B
Taylor Ward RF
Brandon Marsh LF
Kurt Suzuki C
Tyler Wade 2B
Andrew Velazquez SS 

José Suarez LHP

Here are the starters for the Orioles’ three-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx:

Tuesday: Jordan Lyles vs. Luis Severino

Wednesday: Tyler Wells vs. Jordan Montgomery

Thursday: Bruce Zimmermann vs. Jameson Taillon