Orioles Stars Jordan Westburg and Cedric Mullins Return from Injury

Infielder Jordan Westburg and center fielder Cedric Mullins are back at Camden Yards after absence due to injury. Westburg has been out since the last time they faced the Tigers on April 26th.

Jordan Westburg Returns From IL, Emmanuel Rivera DFAed

Jordan Westburg has been unlucky this year with a back injury in spring training that delayed his season, and then the hamstring injury that kept him out more than a month. Westburg has been on a tear during his rehab stint, hitting .393 with 2 home runs with Triple-A affiliate Norfolk. Bringing Westburg back meant that the O’s designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera for assignment. With Westburg and Ramon Urias on the roster, there wasn’t room for another primary third baseman. 

1B/3B Coby Mayo looks more comfortable at the plate, so the Orioles are giving him a proper chance to get consistent at bats. Mayo, a righty, will platoon with Ryan O’Hearn at first, and hopefully help the club against left handed pitchers.

Cedric Mullins Returns From IL

Cedric Mullins was placed on the IL on May 28th and missed the minimum amount of time he realistically could. He will start game 1 as a DH, so he may not be fully ready without a rehab game, but the O’s could use his bat and his presence ASAP. Despite missing time, Mullins still leads the club in home runs and RBI. Orioles fans can also rejoice when they see Mullins back in center field again. During the previous series in Sacramento, the Orioles outfield defense made multiple bad plays and seemed to have a tough time tracking the ball. 

Heston Kjerstad Sent To Triple A

This was a major reason why OF Heston Kjerstad was sent down to the minors to make room for Mullins. Kjerstad was given a long leash with the injuries the O’s sustained, but it was clear he needed a reset. Silent J’s bat went silent, hitting just .192 for the season. His outfield defense also left a lot to be desired. OF Dylan Carlson simply outplayed him, and earned his spot on the team thanks to an ok bat and his ability to play all 3 outfield positions.

Manager Tony Mansolino called Westburg the “glue” of the team and Mullins is the longest-tenured Oriole. Having these two back will be huge for the team, even if it might be too late for the fans’ playoff hopes.

Tigers Are a Wagon, Should Be a Great Test for Birdland

The Tigers have the best record in the MLB at 43-24. Their biggest star is SP Tarik Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young and Triple Crown winner. Skubal once again is leading the race for this year’s Cy Young race. He has been simply dominant, one of the game’s true aces. In his last start against the Chicago Cubs, Skubal went 7.2 innings, allowing just 1 run while striking out 6. According to fangraphs, he leads all pitchers with 3.4 wins above replacement. 

The supporting cast behind him is very good. SP Casey Mize and 1B Spencer Torkleson are both former #1 overall picks who have gone from major disappointments to key players on a contending team. 2B Gleyber Torres and INF Javier Baez are another pair of players who have unexpectedly thrived this season. Torres was a cheap free agent who has already outperformed his 1 year deal. Baez has been awful since signing with the team in free agency a few years ago, but he has put together a fantastic season. His .270 avg would be his best since the 2019 season, and he has had a few magical walk-off hits this season.