Gunnar (knee) out of O's lineup; Blaze (back discomfort) to 10-day IL
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BALTIMORE -- The Orioles are playing Wednesday night's series finale vs. the Guardians at Camden Yards without two of their top players.
Gunnar Henderson was out of Baltimore's lineup a night after fouling a ball off his left knee. The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the eighth inning of a 9-5 loss to Cleveland, exiting after experiencing discomfort while running from first to second on a play later in the frame.
Blaze Alexander was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back discomfort prior to Wednesday's contest. The 27-year-old utility man was replaced on the roster by infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.
The absences of Henderson and Alexander were big blows for the O's (70-76 entering Wednesday), who are trying to stay alive in a competitive American League Wild Card race.
Henderson's status is day to day. He was wearing a compression sleeve on his left knee after Tuesday's game, but he did not have it on Wednesday afternoon in the Orioles' clubhouse.
"He's pretty banged up," manager Craig Albernaz said.
It's been a bit of a down season for Henderson, who is hitting .219 with 25 doubles, five triples, 22 home runs and a .698 OPS. Still, he remains a core player on Baltimore's roster and has had bright moments at times in 2026.
Alexander's IL stint marks the second of his first season with the O's. He was previously on the injured list from July 13-Aug. 28 due to a left hand fracture. His back ailment does not seem to be a long-term issue.
When healthy, Alexander has been one of Baltimore's most consistent offensive performers. The utility man has hit .303 with 13 doubles, two triples, four homers, 31 RBIs and a .772 OPS in 93 games.
The Orioles brought back Jackson, who has played 89 games for the club while spending the majority of the season in the big leagues. The 26-year-old entered Wednesday hitting .226 with 10 doubles, seven homers, 39 RBIs and a .614 OPS in 89 games for Baltimore.