Orioles give concerning injury update on young star

BOSTON — After missing more than a month with a left oblique strain, there was some concerning news about the other side of Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman on Tuesday.

Rutschman was a late scratch from the lineup on Tuesday night as the Orioles wrapped up a quick two-game series at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old catcher was originally slated to hit second for Baltimore, but he was replaced in the lineup after reporting right abdominal discomfort during pregame batting work.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino gave Rutschman credit for reporting the injury and not trying to push through it.

"There was some side soreness that popped up a little bit. I'm learning now, but it sounds like yesterday he had some general soreness in the opposite side that he injured earlier," Mansolino said. "He came in today and started his cage routine. Didn't feel good, so wisely stopped. We'll get him checked out tomorrow and see the severity of it."

The Orioles have an off day on Wednesday before starting a series at Camden Yards against the Houston Astros.

Rutschman did not play against the Red Sox on Monday, but Mansolino insisted that was "a planned off day." Rutschman caught all three games for the Orioles in Houston before the trip to Fenway, going 2-for-15 at the plate.

"It was all by design," Mansolino said of the off day, trying to alleviate concerns about Rutschman being out of the lineup yet again.

Rutschman's trip to the injured list with the left oblique strain was his first time on the IL in his four-year career. It's part of a season that has been disappointing for the former top overall draft pick as he is just 3-for-29 over his last seven games, lowering his slash line to .227/.310/.373 in 308 at-bats.

He is also batting just .138 with runners in scoring position, the third-lowest average among all MLB hitters with a minimum of 50 at-bats.

Rutschman's soreness comes at a time when the Orioles are also without infielder Jordan Westburg, who left Monday's game in the top of the first inning with a sore right ankle.

"It's not been fun. The injury situation and the injury bug that we've had, it's been pretty wild," Mansolino said. "At some point, the baseball gods will take their foot off our necks in some way. 

"But, nonetheless, we still have a game to go play. I like the nine guys we got out there. They might not be some of the regular names that we've seen here over the years, but I like what's out there. I like what we have on the mound, and I feel like we have a chance to go play a good game."

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.