CLEVELAND—Catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s been on the injured list since June 20th with a strained left oblique, was the designated hitter for Triple-A Norfolk in the Tides’ 3-2 loss at Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
Rutschman had a double in three at-bats and also walked. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said it’s possible that Rutschman could return this weekend when the Orioles play Colorado. Rutschman is expected to catch on Wednesday night.
“There’s multiple schedules for Adley depending on how things go,” Mansolino said. “One of the things that he did really well that’s going to help him expedite his process is all the live at-bats he got down in Sarasota when we were down in Tampa. He got a ton of live at-bats there. The bat is probably ahead of catching shape right now.”
Mansolino wants Rutschman to catch back-to-back games before he returns.
“You can build up in the big leagues a little bit,” Mansolino said. “He doesn’t have to be fully built up. We can get him here and build him up.”
Mansolino said it’s possible first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a strained right hamstring, could start a rehab assignment in Norfolk on Thursday.
Eflin returning: Zach Eflin, who’s been on the 15-day injured list with a back injury, is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday. The Orioles will have to make a roster move to add Eflin.
“Ef’s a great major league pitcher. He’s done it in this league for a long time,” Mansolino said. “He’s motivated. Not that he’s never not motivated. He’s always highly motivated.
“Being on the IL here with the lower back strain, he’s unhappy. Really optimistic about where he’s at, where his mind is at. Looking forward to seeing him take the ball tomorrow.”
Charlie Morton is scheduled to start on Thursday.
Carlson recalled: Dylan Carlson was recalled from Norfolk shortly before the game. Carlson hit .234 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 34 games with the Orioles this season Infielder Luis Vázquez was optioned to Norfolk. He was 1-for-13 (.077) with an RBI.
The walks have stopped: After 172 games of drawing at least one walk in a game, the Orioles haven’t walked in three of the last five games.
“Maybe good pitching,” Mansolino said. “You’re facing Tampa. Tampa’s got a great reputation for pitching. Then you play the Cleveland Guardians, who maybe have a better reputation historically with their pitching.
“I think we’re probably facing pretty good pitching. I think we know when pitchers throw strikes and get ahead in the count. They’re going to succeed and do really well. I think we’ve run into [teams] that do that.”
Notes: Norfolk catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, who hasn’t played in the second half of the season because of oblique discomfort, has begun a hitting progression and could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend… Catcher Chadwick Tromp, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a strained lower back injury, had his rehab assignment transferred from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen. … Albert Suárez, who’s on the 60-day IL with a right rotator cuff injury, threw another bullpen session and should throw to hitters by the end of the month.
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