With September approaching, we may see the return of the Orioles, who have been dearly missed by this overly wounded squad. We go down the four individuals who have the greatest potential for impact.
It’s no secret that Baltimore has been hit hard by the injury bug this season. With Ryan Mountcastle’s recent declaration that he will be placed on the injured list with a wrist ailment, there are now 12 players of the 40-man roster out with injuries. As Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun pointed out, the Orioles have more players on the injured list than wins in August.
While some of these prospects, such as pitchers Felix Bautista, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells, will not play for the Orioles until at least 2025, others can still influence the season’s outcome. With the September roster expansion approaching, the Orioles can aim to get some of its injured studs back in time to make an impact before the postseason.
That being said, not all of them are expected to be ready to return to action on September 1st, and for some, it may be a race to be healthy by the final regular season game on September 29th. With September less than a week away, we look at five players whose return from injury can dramatically affect the makeup of this roster—as well as when we might see them back.
#1: RHP Zach Eflin (out since August 17 with right shoulder inflammation)
The news that the Orioles’ biggest trade deadline acquisition was headed to the minor leagues came as a shock to everyone in Birdland. The former Ray and Phillie had been a revelation since joining the Orioles at the end of July, with a 2.13 ERA and.240 BAA against in four consecutive quality starts. With Corbin Burnes struggling in August, Eflin appeared to be the staff’s ace prior to his injury.
The good news for Eflin is that he appears to be the most prepared to return from the injury. All reports indicate that the right-hander will be ready to return on September 1, the first day he is eligible. With Eflin returning in the rotation, the Orioles now have a much more formidable quartet of Burnes-Eflin-Dean Kremer-Albert Suárez, with the Orioles able to ride the hot hand between Cade Povich and Cole Irvin for five.
Eflin should also offer some level of steadiness. Kremer and Suárez have performed admirably since Eflin’s injury, combining for a 1.90 ERA in four outings since August 17. However, we’ve seen both get into problems before. Kremer’s ERA in his first five starts following the All-Star break was 5.33, and the Orioles went 1-4. Suárez had a 7.64 ERA in four starts in July, prompting his relegation to the bullpen following the trade deadline. Eflin appears to be a safer bet than both in terms of maintaining a high level of performance and keeping the rotation on stable foundation as we approach October.
When will he be back: As soon as possible
#2: RHP Jacob Webb (out since August 4 with right elbow inflammation)
Since Félix Bautista’s injury, it appears like Brandon Hyde and Mike Elias have been unable to solve the bullpen riddle. Losing Webb, who had been one of the pen’s most consistent relievers since his acquisition last August, hasn’t helped.
Yennier Cano and Seranthony DomÃnguez are the Orioles’ 8th and 9th inning starters. The gaps in this bullpen corps are most noticeable in the bridge players who transfer the ball from the starter to that tandem. Prior to Webb’s injury, Burch Smith appeared to be a reliable right-side alternative who may emerge as the next Jacob Webb. Smith has a 10.13 ERA in eight innings since Webb’s injury, and he recently let up back-to-back solo home runs in a defeat to Houston.
Craig Kimbrel hasn’t performed much better in his new job as a middle reliever, with a 5.87 ERA and.930 OPS against since being demoted from closer at the end of July. The Orioles also recently claimed Matt Bowman off waivers, but with a 5.40 ERA among three other clubs in 2024, he doesn’t appear to be the answer either.
As Smith illustrated against the Astros, right-handed relievers, in particular, have struggled with the long ball. Webb’s 0.7 HR/9 is by far the best among Orioles right-handed relievers, and he backs it up with a solid 9.6 K/9. On August 10, Elias stated that Webb’s injury was not particularly significant and could result in a shorter IL term. The Orioles will need to be careful not to overuse him, which was a concern prior to his injury, but his return will surely help to correct some of the bullpen’s weaknesses.
When will he be back: sooner rather than later
#3: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (out since August 7 with a right lat strain)
The flame-throwing Texan’s sophomore season hasn’t been ideal, with two stints on the IL and some on-field hiccups. Perhaps expecting Rodriguez to be the same pitcher who recorded a 2.58 ERA and.227 BAA in 13 post-All-Star starts last season was unrealistic. However, it’s difficult to overlook the 3.86 ERA while simultaneously allowing more hard contact and home runs.
However, G-Rod still has a potential that no other starter on this squad can match. Rodriguez currently leads all Orioles starters with a 10.03 K/9 and would be one of only four American League starters with a 10+ K/9 if he had enough innings to qualify. The 24-year-old’s stuff is undeniably good, with a high 90s fastball, a vanishing changeup, and powerful breaking balls. He employs that plus stuff to pursue strikeouts in a manner that only Corbin Burnes is capable of, but rarely does.
Bringing G-Rod back into the rotation would not only transform it from an unknown to a strength, but it would also position the Orioles exceptionally well for the postseason. A three-man rotation of Burnes, Eflin, and Rodriguez could compete with any AL team in a Wild Card series. Bringing Rodriguez back into the rotation for a longer playoff series also allows Suárez to return to the bullpen, increasing the chances that the Kimbrels and Smiths of the world will be left off the roster entirely.
The most pressing question is not what Grayson brings to the table as an undeniable ceiling-raiser for the Orioles. The question is, when will we see him on the mound again. A similar lat strain in 2022 required three months to recover from. While all accounts indicate that this strain is less significant, the best-case scenario remains a mid to late September return.
When will he be back: in a couple weeks
#4: IF Jordan Westburg (Out since August 1 with a fractured right hand)
Westburg is fourth on this list, not because he is the least valuable, but because it is unclear when (or if) he will play again in the regular season. According to the Baltimore Banner, Westburg will most likely be out of the lineup for another month because his hand is still in a cast. Westy is now participating in left-hand only fielding drills and hitting practice, but his return date will remain unknown until he can perform a complete range of baseball activities (with both hands).
Westburg’s return provides a greater benefit than any other player currently on the IL. The All-Star infielder would help the Orioles better match up their infield with the opposing pitcher. With Westy back at second or third, Jackson Holliday could sit against lefties, or Baltimore could play Ramón UrÃas at first base until Mountcastle is healthy. Regardless of where he plays, Westburg’s return adds length to this team, which has been sorely lacking over the last three weeks. It will simply be a race against time to see whether the Orioles can activate Westburg before the postseason begins.
