The Orioles announced several roster moves this morning. Adley Rutschman is being activated off the 7-day concussion injured list. Outfielder Dylan Beavers is also back from the 10-day IL. Utilityman Jeremiah Jackson was optioned to Triple-A after yesterday’s game, while catcher Sam Huff is being designated for assignment.
Rutschman was placed on the concussion IL on June 20th (retroactive to the 19th) after an errant throw struck him in the head in an attempt at a double play. Manager Craig Albernaz acknowledged the injury as a freak incident and stated the team would take it day by day with Rutschman’s recovery. Ultimately, Rutschman makes his return just two days after he was first eligible, giving the team three catchers on the active roster with Huff’s designation.
Samuel Basallo drew six of eight possible starts behind the plate while Rutschman was out, with Huff and Chadwick Tromp each starting one game to round things out. Basallo only has six hits in 28 plate appearances since June 19th, but that’s a minor blip in what’s otherwise a strong season for the youngster. Rutschman and Basallo are both at least 13% better than average at the plate according to wRC+, giving Baltimore one of the better catching tandems in the league from an offensive standpoint. The team has used the DH spot to give both Rutschman and Basallo regular playing time, with one getting a half day off when the other starts behind the plate.
Rutschman’s return is crucial to the Orioles’ playoff hopes. The team is 39-45 after yesterday’s loss to the Nationals and has a -24 run differential. Overall, the offense is middle-of-the-pack with a 102 wRC+. Of the ten hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, Pete Alonso (126 wRC+), Blaze Alexander (122), Taylor Ward (121), Rutschman (118), and Basallo (113) are above average at the plate. The other five hitters are below average by wRC+.
Those first five names give the Orioles’ offense a solid floor and make it a relative strength compared to the pitching staff. That said, Baltimore faces an uphill battle to reach the postseason. While they’re currently just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, FanGraphs gives the Orioles a 26.1% chance of making the playoffs. The team’s schedule through the deadline is pretty favorable outside of six games against the Cubs and Braves, but realistically, they’ll still need to make several upgrades to have a shot, mostly on the pitching side.
More to come.