G-Rod shut down, won't appear for O's in postseason

NEW YORK -- The Orioles have been dealt a final blow in their injury-plagued 2024 regular season, one that will negatively impact their pitching staff for the postseason.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez has been shut down and will not pitch again this year, manager Brandon Hyde announced prior to Wednesday’s game at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez has been on the injured list since Aug. 7 (retroactive to Aug. 4) due to a right lat/teres strain.

Hyde said Rodriguez hasn’t experienced any setbacks in his recovery, but there wasn’t enough time for the 24-year-old to advance to the point where the club felt comfortable sending him to the mound in October. Rodriguez has yet to face live hitters, as he’s only been throwing routine bullpen sessions for much of September.

“He was progressing fine. It’s normally an injury which takes some time, and to get him back for the playoffs was going to be a little bit of a rush,” Hyde said. “We just felt like for his health, for his future, it’s the right thing to do.”

Rodriguez sustained the injury on Aug. 6, when he reported soreness while warming up for a start at Toronto and was scratched 10 minutes before the game. He also missed time from April 30-May 18 due to right shoulder inflammation.

When Rodriguez was healthy during his sophomore big league campaign, he pitched well. The 2018 first-round Draft pick and former top prospect went 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings over 20 starts. It was a step forward from his 2023 rookie season, when he posted a 4.35 ERA across 23 starts.

“We’re going to get him ready for 2025,” Hyde said. “It’s disappointing and tough, but he’s so talented and a huge part of our rotation this year and going forward. Just ran out of time.”

Much of Baltimore’s injury news in recent weeks had been positive. Since Sept. 15, relievers Jacob Webb and Danny Coulombe, outfielder Heston Kjerstad and infielders Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle have all been activated from the IL.

However, Rodriguez will remain on the injured list, alongside fellow starters Kyle Bradish (Tommy John surgery), John Means (Tommy John) and Tyler Wells (UCL repair surgery), closer Félix Bautista (Tommy John) and infielder Jorge Mateo (UCL reconstruction surgery), all of whom will not return until 2025.

“It’s part of the game, unfortunately. It’s the part of the game that stinks,” Hyde said. “But we’ve been missing guys all year and hung in there, and we’re excited about these next five and going into the postseason.”

Despite how banged up their roster has been for much of the year, the O’s are heading to the postseason for the second straight season, as they clinched a spot following Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Yankees. Baltimore is unlikely to catch New York in the American League East standings, but it is likely to hold on to the No. 4 seed that goes to the AL’s top Wild Card.

That means the Orioles will probably host a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Camden Yards beginning Tuesday. They would face the No. 5 seed, which should be one of the Tigers, Royals, Twins or Mariners.

Baltimore remains happy with its rotation options for the postseason. Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin will be the top two starters, while fellow right-hander Dean Kremer (a 2.98 ERA over his past eight starts) would likely start Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, if necessary.

Righty Albert Suárez (a 3.80 ERA in 23 outings as a starter this year) and rookie lefty Cade Povich (a 3.27 ERA in four September starts) are also starting options for the O’s in October.

“The way Dean is throwing the ball, and Suárez and Povich have pitched well. And then, you’ve got these two guys going the next two days [Eflin and Burnes],” Hyde said. “You feel good about it.”