Devastating As Baltimore Orioles Suffer Another Setback As Multiple Key Players Go Down with Injuries
The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles each found reasons to be encouraged over the past week, despite experiencing somewhat different outcomes.
They’ll open a three-game series Monday night in Baltimore.
The Orioles return home after a 3–4 road swing through AL East foes Tampa Bay and New York.
“I was pleased with how we competed on the road,” said Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. “That’s what we can take from the trip.”
Meanwhile, the Rangers took two out of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates, though they closed the series with an 8–3 loss Sunday, getting out-hit 15–6.
“You win the series, so you take the positives,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Now we head to Baltimore and see if we can keep winning series.”
Texas has won six of its last eight games on the road.
Outfielder Wyatt Langford returned to the Rangers’ lineup Sunday after missing two games with back tightness. He went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Bochy noted that some of his bullpen decisions late in Sunday’s game were influenced by planning ahead for the Orioles series.
“We’re trying to rest a few guys in the bullpen,” he said.
Baltimore may be dealing with bigger roster concerns, especially behind the plate. Adley Rutschman was placed on the injured list Sunday due to a left oblique strain. His replacement, Maverick Handley, exited in the second inning after a home plate collision with Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees.
Handley may need to go through concussion protocol.
“We haven’t seen a play like that at the plate since the new rules were implemented,” said Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino. “We’re doing a full evaluation. We’ll know more Monday.”
If needed, catcher Chadwick Tromp could be called up from Triple-A Norfolk to join Gary Sánchez, who finished Sunday’s game.
Additionally, Baltimore was without infielder Jordan Westburg on Sunday after he suffered a sprained finger in Saturday’s game.
The Orioles will send left-hander Trevor Rogers (0-0, 3.12 ERA) to the mound for Monday’s series opener. This will be his third major league appearance of the season. In his last outing on Wednesday against Tampa Bay, he pitched 2 1/3 innings as a starter and allowed three runs.
Rogers has faced the Rangers twice in his career, posting a 0-1 record and a 4.38 ERA over 12 1/3 total innings.
Baltimore’s bullpen will look a bit different as well. Former All-Star right-hander Yennier Cano was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, and righty Yaramil Hiraldo was called up in his place.
“(Cano) has had some ups and downs—we all know that,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “This is a chance for him to head down, work on a few small things, and hopefully get back to the version of Yenni Cano we know he can be.”
Texas is set to counter with left-hander Patrick Corbin (4-6, 3.91 ERA), which could pose a challenge for Baltimore, a team that has struggled at times against left-handed pitching.
Corbin has gone at least five innings in each of his last nine starts but is just 1-3 over his past four outings. He’s allowed 11 home runs this season—seven of those coming on the road.
In nine career starts against Baltimore, Corbin holds a 1-5 record with a 5.21 ERA over 46 2/3 innings.
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