BALTIMORE -- Not again, right?
That’s all Orioles fans could help but think on Saturday, when the injury bug struck yet again. First, Adley Rutschman went on the 10-day injured list due to left ankle inflammation. Then, Ryan Mountcastle exited in the second inning of the game vs. the Giants with left foot pain.
It’s hard for Baltimore to not feel down after an injury-plagued 2025 season has been followed with an unhealthy start to ‘26. Eleven players are on the IL and two more -- Mountcastle and outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who hasn’t played the past two days due to illness -- are unavailable.
The only encouraging part for the O’s is they may be better built to withstand this early adversity than they were last year. Their 6-2 win over San Francisco at Camden Yards improved their record to 7-7 -- not bad, all things considered -- as Gunnar Henderson (MLB-leading sixth home run) and Jeremiah Jackson (three hits, including a homer) fueled the victory.
“We've been treading water for the last two weeks, essentially,” said right-hander Chris Bassitt, who allowed two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. “I think we've been playing pretty bad at times. I think we've been playing OK at times. But we for sure have not been playing well. Good teams find a way to tread water when they're not playing well, and for us to be .500 speaks a lot about this group.”
The past year-plus hasn’t been easy for the Orioles -- who used the IL 39 times for 29 players in 2025 -- and the short term could continue to be a challenge. Rutschman and Mountcastle are both scheduled to undergo MRIs on Sunday, so more information should be coming regarding how long those two could be sidelined.
Rutschman’s ankle injury was sustained in the first inning of Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Giants, as the 28-year-old catcher felt something when he reached second base on a double. He stayed in and finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, continuing his solid start to the season by raising his average to .294 and his OPS to .855 through 10 games.
Manager Craig Albernaz said Rutschman’s ankle felt “a little weird” Saturday morning, and then it swelled up throughout the day, prompting the O’s to scratch him from the lineup before placing him on the injured list shortly before first pitch.
It’s a disappointing development for Rutschman, who was limited to 90 games last year because of the first two IL stints of his career, both for oblique strains (one on each side).
“I’m obviously glad Adley said something to make sure we kind of nip this in the bud, and I think we all know that -- anyone who has messed around playing basketball or whatever and sprained your ankle -- one, it sucks, and two, it can linger for a little bit,” Albernaz said. “So it kind of gives us a chance to nip this in the bud early and get the 10 days off, really get the treatment going and try to keep the body moving. But yeah, it just sucks for Adley.”
Catcher Maverick Handley’s contract was selected from Double-A Chesapeake to take Rutschman’s roster spot. However, that may have been a one-game move, as Sam Huff was pulled from Triple-A Norfolk’s game and could be brought up for Sunday’s finale vs. the Giants.
Albernaz initially thought Mountcastle’s injury was an ankle ailment as well, but his soreness is in other parts of his left foot. The 29-year-old stumbled while running from first to second on his leadoff double in the second, then awkwardly slid into the bag on the play. He was checked over quickly before his exit.
Mountcastle has been in a bench role following the arrival of star first baseman Pete Alonso, who signed a five-year, $155 million deal over the offseason. Mountcastle is 4-for-14 (.286) over eight games this year.
Baltimore continues to move forward without significant players. Starting infielders Jackson Holliday (right hamate surgery) and Jordan Westburg (partial right UCL tear) remain out, though Holliday is 10 games into his rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk and nearing a return. Right-hander Zach Eflin underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday.
Perhaps better fortune will eventually come. But for now, the O’s will try to win with the pieces they have, which they believe is plenty enough.
“The way we reacted and went out there and played our brand of baseball, it’s just what we’ve got to do,” Jackson said. “I think the whole roster brings a lot of good things to the team, and we’ll be fine.”