BALTIMORE — Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game Tuesday, but his return to the field is imminent.
Speaking to reporters prior to the second game of a three-game series against Texas, manager Tony Mansolino described Westburg as “very good” a few days after jamming his left index finger on a headfirst slide at Yankee Stadium. Any lingering concern about the 26-year-old needing to go on the 10-day injured list has seemingly subsided despite minor-league infielder Terrin Vavra being in Baltimore as part of the medical taxi squad.
“We had to make a decision on him getting in the lineup tonight earlier, and he was probably closer than we thought,” said Mansolino about Westburg’s Tuesday status. “I think all indications are that we’ll probably see him tomorrow, and if we don’t see him tomorrow, then we’ll definitely see him Friday.”
Thursday will bring the Orioles’ first scheduled off-day since June 9
Also on the taxi squad is right-handed pitcher Brandon Young, who is set to either start or pitch in bulk against the Rangers in Wednesday’s finale. That’s because the Orioles are pushing back right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who has failed to complete five innings in three straight starts and failed to get through four innings for the first time all season against the New York Yankees last Friday night.
Though Sugano’s season ERA has climbed from 3.04 to 3.55 over that stretch, Mansolino said the reason for pushing him back has more to do with Baltimore’s recent lack of off-days than his recent performance or any injury concern. The 35-year-old Sugano was typically part of six-man rotations in Japan rather than the common five-man rotation used in the majors.
“We’re just trying to give him as much extra rest as we can to kind of mirror the schedule that he’s pitched on the last 15 years that he’s pitched in Japan,” Mansolino said. “It is something to be mindful about when a guy comes over on that schedule and then you push him on the every-fifth-day major league schedule. It does take a little bit of a toll. The pitching staff, the medical staff, the front office, they’re on top of it, and they’re doing everything they can to try to help him out with that.”
For what it’s worth, Sugano has fared very well pitching on four days’ rest this season, posting a 2.82 ERA in four starts spanning 22 1/3 innings. However, there’s always the long-term impact to consider for any pitcher over the course of a six-month season.
In his first two major league starts earlier this season, Young pitched to a 6.23 ERA over 8 2/3 innings. After his initial stint with the Orioles in late April, the 26-year-old spent a month on Triple-A Norfolk’s injured list with right shoulder discomfort. In his first start back with the Tides last Friday night, Young tossed five innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and striking out five.
