Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is showing signs of improvement and moving closer to avoiding the injured list.
Rutschman was scratched from last night’s lineup due to lower back discomfort that surfaced while he was hitting in the cage. He is currently receiving treatment but remains on the active roster.
“He’s feeling a bit better,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We’re hopeful he can return in the next day or two, and he should be available off the bench tonight if needed. He’s definitely showing improvement from last night, with his back feeling somewhat better.”
Triple-A Norfolk catcher Blake Hunt is on standby at Camden Yards as the taxi squad catcher, in case Rutschman’s condition worsened.
“We were monitoring his condition today,” Hyde explained. “If his situation had deteriorated, recalling Hunt would have been a real consideration. Given the nature of the position, it’s critical to have adequate depth. We expected Rutschman’s condition to improve by this afternoon, and it has.”
Rutschman has so far avoided being placed on the injured list in the majors.
Meanwhile, Grayson Rodriguez, currently on the 15-day IL with right lat/teres discomfort, threw on flat ground today for the first time since being scratched from his August 6 start in Toronto.
“I’m taking it easy right now,” Rodriguez said. “So far, so good. Everything feels fine.”
Rodriguez experienced discomfort while warming up at Rogers Centre and informed pitching coach Drew French, leading to the decision to shut down his outing.
“I could tell something wasn’t right, so we decided to stop,” he said. “I really want to be back for the latter part of the season, and thankfully we caught it before it became more serious. There were no prior signs; I didn’t feel anything until that moment.”
Rodriguez aims to return to the rotation next month, though the exact timing remains uncertain after just one day of playing catch.
“I’m focused on returning as soon as possible. When that will be, I’m not sure,” Rodriguez said. He is 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 20 starts. “We don’t have a specific return date in mind. It will depend on how I feel day by day. The organization is committed to ensuring that when I do come back, I stay healthy.”
Rodriguez missed three months of the 2022 Triple-A season due to a lat/teres strain, but he notes that this issue is less severe.
“This is much milder. That’s encouraging,” he said. “I want to be part of the postseason and the latter part of September, so we’re doing everything to ensure I stay healthy and in good shape.”
Rodriguez’s optimism is shared by the organization, though with a cautious approach.
“I’m hopeful for the best,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how things progress with his throwing, and we’re optimistic as long as he avoids setbacks. With the season winding down, we remain hopeful and feel positive about his current status.”
The Orioles anticipate having Rodriguez, reliever Danny Coulombe, and infielder Jordan Westburg available by late September, and might get reliever Jacob Webb back a bit sooner. Webb played catch today for the first time since being placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
The team is balancing the need to upgrade from within with the importance of not rushing the process.
“Our medical team does a great job managing these situations,” Hyde said. “They keep us informed about the players’ progress and adjust schedules as needed for August and September. I’m confident in their approach and hopeful that none of these players will face setbacks. If they don’t, we should be able to add them to the roster in September.”
Albert Suárez will start Sunday on an extra day of rest, while rookie left-hander Cade Povich takes the mound tonight.
