NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the injured list Saturday for the first time in his career because of a strained left oblique.
Rutschman, 27, had an MRI on Saturday morning, and the Orioles announced the move about 15 minutes before their game against the New York Yankees.
“He’s been super durable, especially for a catcher,” Baltimore interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Unfortunately, if he does, if this is a thing, he’s going to go, but hopefully it’s not too long.”
Rutschman had been in Baltimore’s original lineup Friday as the designated hitter before feeling pain during batting practice and being scratched. The Orioles recalled Maverick Handley, who will serve as the backup to Gary Sanchez until Rutschman returns.
Rutschman is hitting .227 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in 68 games this season. He has been among the more durable catchers in the majors. After playing 113 games following his debut in May 2022, he appeared in 154 games in 2023 and 148 last season.
Baltimore’s lineup took another hit when infielder Jordan Westburg exited Saturday’s game against the Yankees in the third inning after jamming his left index finger while stealing a base, despite wearing a protective glove. He was seen wincing afterward.
Westburg, who started at designated hitter, walked in the first inning and stole second during an at-bat by Gunnar Henderson. He was replaced in the third by rookie Coby Mayo.
Following Baltimore’s 9-0 loss, the team said X-rays were negative.
“Jammed his finger stealing second base,” Mansolino said. “Sprained, strained, something along those lines. Hoping it’s day-to-day right now. Nothing imminent with him. We feel like probably in a few days he’ll be OK, maybe earlier.”
The 26-year-old Westburg missed more than a month with a left hamstring strain before returning on June 10. He is hitting .229 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games this season.
“All I know is that there’s no fracture on the X-ray, so trying to stay optimistic in that sense,” Westburg said.
Westburg was an All-Star last season, when he batted .264 with 18 homers and 63 RBIs.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
