7 injured O's who could impact stretch run

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

It’s the last day of August, and the Orioles have 12 players on their big league injured list. That’s not what any team wants this late into a season, especially when considering the quality of players currently sidelined for the O’s.

Baltimore’s IL dozen features: A full rotation’s worth of starting pitchers (Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells); an All-Star closer (Félix Bautista); two more high-leverage relievers (Danny Coulombe, Jacob Webb); an All-Star infielder (Jordan Westburg); a starting first baseman (Ryan Mountcastle); the club’s fastest player (Jorge Mateo); and a promising young outfielder (Heston Kjerstad).

“I mean, heck, you look at our pitchers on the IL right now, you’re talking about a staff that people would be envious of going into a season if they’re all healthy,” veteran catcher James McCann said. “You’re talking about a top three of Bradish, Grayson and Eflin. And then, obviously, Bautista, Danny Coulombe, [Webb]. And then you throw in the position players that are currently on the IL, too.”

One of the biggest storylines of the Orioles’ 2024 season has been their bad injury luck. More came earlier this week, as Mateo underwent season-ending surgery on his left elbow on Wednesday. The 29-year-old infielder joined Bautista, Bradish, Means and Wells on the list of injured Baltimore players who won’t return until ‘25.

The other seven, though, could all be back by late September -- and probably much sooner for a few of them.

“We think about it every day,” Rodriguez said of the imminent return for a few key pieces.

So, what’s the latest?

? Eflin (right shoulder inflammation) could start Sunday (the first day he is eligible to be reinstated) in the series finale at Colorado. The 30-year-old right-hander has repeatedly stated he doesn’t think he’ll need a rehab assignment, and manager Brandon Hyde called a Sunday return a possibility. Eflin (4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts for the O’s) should provide a boost.

? Webb (right elbow inflammation) is with Triple-A Norfolk in Jacksonville, Fla., where he’ll soon begin a rehab assignment. It may not be long before the 31-year-old righty (who has a 3.08 ERA in 53 appearances) returns to Baltimore’s bullpen.

? Mountcastle (left wrist sprain) nearly avoided the IL, but he didn’t show enough improvement before getting placed on it on Monday (retroactive to Aug. 23). The 27-year-old could be ready soon after he’s eligible to return.

? Kjerstad (concussion) ramped up baseball activities earlier this week and is making good progress. The 25-year-old’s bat could make an impact in September.

? Coulombe (left elbow surgery) has been throwing off a mound over the past week, which is an encouraging step forward. The 34-year-old is expected to be back in mid-to-late September.

? Rodriguez (right lat/teres strain) has been throwing on flat ground, bumping up his distance to close to 90 feet. The 24-year-old said Thursday he expects to move to a mound “here pretty soon.” A late September return seems plausible.

? Westburg (right hand fracture) continues to field grounders with his right arm behind his back and take one-handed swings. The hope is that the 25-year-old’s hand heals in time to get him back before the end of the regular season.

If the Orioles truly get all seven of these players -- or at least the majority of them -- back during September, it would make the roster much deeper and much stronger.

“Hopefully, it’s a huge boost to us heading into late September and October,” McCann said. “I hope so. That’s how you draw it up -- Westy coming back, Webby coming back right around the corner, Danny Coulombe, Eflin, Grayson -- those guys kind of help pick up where they left off before they went on the IL. Getting hot at the right time, that’s what it’s all about, right?”

Sure, the O’s would like to play well consistently and capture their second straight American League East title. But their primary goal is to win a World Series championship -- an objective that could become much more realistic if reinforcements start flooding the roster.

The 2023 AL Division Series loss to the Rangers left a negative mark on the Orioles, who will do whatever it takes to produce a better result this postseason.

“Last year, we did really well in the regular season. The playoffs didn’t go how we wanted it to,” Rodriguez said. “So this year, we’re really going to be focusing on October more, not just the regular season. I think guys are trying to preserve themselves for the postseason, because ultimately, that’s what’s most important.

“Everybody wants to win their division and it’s fun, and that’s the goal. But you want to win the World Series. You want to be the winner at the very end. And I think that’s what’s on everybody’s minds right now.”