9:04 p.m.: Rodriguez is returning to Baltimore for more tests and still has a shot on his right hand, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters (including Weyrich) following the club's loss to the Blue Jays this evening.
7:59 p.m.: Orioles right hand Grayson Rodriguez he was scratched from his first pitch against the Blue Jays because of what the club later announced was “lat/teres discomfort.” As noted by Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun, Rodriguez began warming up for his first start of the evening before appearing to tell linebacker coach Drew French, “I don't feel good.” Rodriguez left the field for the clubhouse after the interview and was replaced at right back Albert Suarez as the beginning of the game.
Details on the extent of Rodriguez's discomfort are scant, so it's unclear at this point whether the right-hander will require a trip to IL or when he's expected to take the mound. After all, the righty's discomfort will remind him of his performance in IL due to shoulder inflammation earlier this year that lasted nearly three weeks. Rodriguez also has a history of lat issues, having suffered a lat strain as a prospect back in 2022 that ultimately cost him three and a half months.
Regardless of how long Rodriguez ends up missing, the news is a troubling development for the Orioles just one week after the trade deadline as they prepare to make a run at their second straight AL East crown and another postseason run. Injuries in the first rotation have been common in Baltimore this year. The club lost three starters (Kyle Bradish, John Kushoagain Tyler Wells) to have UCL surgery back in June and has seen his right hand Dean Kremer spend time on the shelf in addition to Rodriguez's aforementioned shoulder problem earlier this year. Those injury issues led the Orioles to stockpile starting depth before last week's trade deadline as they made deals to bring in the right-hander. Zach Eflin and on the left Trevor Rogers in the barn.
While those additions have helped bolster a volatile club, losing Rodriguez for significant time would be a troubling outcome as the 24-year-old has emerged as the team's clear starter at #2 behind the ace. Corbin Burns. Rodriguez pitched well in the second season of his career with a respectable 3.86 ERA in 116 2/3 innings of work across 20 starts to go along with excellent rotation numbers. He struck out 26.5% of the batters he faced while walking just 7.3%. That leaves him with a solid 3.67 FIP and an even better 3.60 SIERA, the latter of which is good for the top 25 among all eligible starters this year and slightly better than Burnes' stat of 3.71.
If Rodriguez ends up missing time, it looks like the club will turn to Suarez to take his place in the game going forward. The 34-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2017 before the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract and added him to their roster, but he has excelled in a pinch-hitting role since then, with a 3.75 ERA in 15 starts. five career scoreless streaks for Rodriguez on the evening. The other options to replace Rodriguez in the rotation (or Suarez in a long relief role if he returns to the starting line-up) would be slim. Kade Povichwho struggled to a 6.27 ERA in eight starts in the majors this year, and left Cole Irvin, who just came off the top 40 list. Hoping to throw up Chayce McDermottwho made his major league debut earlier this year, may be the one to help Rodriguez in the majors, but the club announced today that he was placed in minor league IL due to stress. his right scapula earlier today.
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