Interim manager Tony Mansolino said before the Orioles’ series-opener against the Tigers that their backs are against the wall, but two of the team’s most prominent players have returned.
Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg were both reinstated from the injured list on June 10. Mullins missed a little less than two weeks with a right hamstring strain, while Westburg is finally back from a left hamstring strain that kept him out since April 26.
“Whenever you got two guys that walk in like Jordan and Ced, you feel great,” Mansolino said.
Since Westburg made his major league debut on June 26, 2023, the Orioles are 111-87 when he plays, a winning percentage of .560. When Westburg went on the injured list, Baltimore was 10-16. It went 16-22 without the 2024 All-Star.
Westburg said being away from the team during the struggles was hard. He hopes he can bring something to the table, maybe even a spark.
“I’m excited to be back,” Westburg said. “Way too long on the IL for my liking.”
The club hopes Westburg can help against left-handed pitching. The Orioles have a .202/.277./.281 slash line against lefties this season, just one OPS point shy of the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes’ overall mark this year — his OPS+ is 58, so Baltimore’s lineup versus left-handers is essentially 42 percent worse than the league average. Westburg has a career .742 OPS against left-handed pitching.
Mansolino said the addition of Westburg moves Coby Mayo into a primary first-base role and Ramón Urías into a versatile infielder role, with at bats also coming at DH. Emmanuel Rivera was designated for assignment with Westburg’s activation.
Mullins started to find himself at the plate again before going on the injured list. He slugged .466 in the 15 games prior to landing on the IL. He has been one of the Orioles’ best hitters against lefties this year with a .903 OPS versus same-sided pitching, so his return also provides needed help.
The club sent down Heston Kjerstad to make room for Mullins.
The 26-year-old former first-round draft pick had struggled mightily in 167 plate appearances with Baltimore this season, hitting under the Mendoza Line with a .566 OPS. He also endured significant issues with his defense, posting a defensive runs saved mark of minus-7.
Mansolino said Kjerstad struggled because of both confidence and mechanics, and that Kjerstad understood the demotion is an opportunity for him to get back on track. Mansolino noted Kjerstad was sent down with a specific plan but wouldn’t go into specifics.
“We saw it more as an opportunity to make some adjustments,” Mansolino said.
Regarding the next Orioles to return, Mansolino said there’s a small chance that Gary Sánchez (right wrist inflammation) and Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement) come back during Baltimore’s homestand, which ends on Sunday. They’ll be back for the road trip if not, Mansolino said.
No matter who’s in the clubhouse, the Orioles have a tough path ahead of them just to return to .500. That starts with a three-game series against the Tigers, who hold the best record in all of MLB.
“Guys are playing with a massive amount of urgency right now,” Mansolino said.
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