Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was taken out of the starting lineup on Thursday.
The Baltimore Orioles are finally getting back on the right track, and entering Thursday they are looking to complete a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins.
However, one notable name was absent from the lineup for the second time in three days: superstar catcher Adley Rutschman. Instead, Samuel Basallo drew the start behind the plate.
Rutschman’s absence stood out because of how strong he has been this season. Through 22 games, the 28-year-old has posted a .313 batting average, .368 on-base percentage, .930 OPS, four home runs and 20 RBIs.
He has been one of Baltimore’s most consistent hitters and a stabilizing presence for a team trying to climb out of an early-season hole.
When asked why Rutschman was not in Thursday’s lineup, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz explained the decision.
“In lieu of trying to get him the best recovery we can, we’re having him not play today. He can recover on the flight and be ready to go when we get back home. That’s always the balance with a 162-game schedule, picking spots where guys get their days to rest and recover. And to push Adley now, especially coming off the IL a little bit ago, we just want to be smart about it. It’s May 7, his body feels great, and this is just me being overly cautious,” Albernaz said (h/t Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun).
It is fortunate for Baltimore that Rutschman’s absence is not injury-related. He spent time on the 10-day injured list in April due to a left ankle issue, but he appears to be fully past that setback. The Orioles expect him to be back in the lineup Friday for their home series opener against the Athletics.
This season has been a strong rebound for Rutschman after a difficult 2025 in which injuries and inconsistency derailed his production. His career began with high expectations as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he lived up to the hype early, earning two All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award from 2023-24.
Last year raised questions about whether the Orioles might eventually pivot to Basallo as their primary catcher, especially after they extended him on an eight-year deal. Rutschman’s performance this season has made it clear that he remains the best option behind the plate.
With the Orioles sitting at 17-20 and trying to push back into the playoff picture, keeping Rutschman healthy remains essential to their hopes of making a run.