Orioles Are Falling Apart Right Now: Mountcastle and Rutschman Both Out Before Rubber Match With Giants

The Baltimore Orioles caught a break Saturday night with a 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, but the cost might be too high. Heading into Sunday's finale of the three-game series, the O's are dealing with a lineup that's getting thinner by the day, and it's hard to call that momentum when your best players are hitting the injured list.

The Injuries Keep Stacking Up

First baseman and designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle went down with a foot injury during Saturday's game. But that's just the headline. Before the game even started, catcher Adley Rutschman landed on the injured list with left ankle inflammation that swelled up on him during the day.

"As he was going through it, it kind of just swelled up on him pretty good," manager Craig Albernaz told reporters. "This might sound repetitive, but it sucks. It sucks for any player to get injured, and I'm obviously glad Adley said something to make sure we kind of nip this in the bud."

If Mountcastle hits the IL too, expect Sam Huff to get called up from Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles will have Samuel Basallo available behind the plate and also brought in Maverick Handley from Double-A Chesapeake. Albernaz keeps preaching the same message: "The grind of the season. There's always injuries. Yeah, it's a lot going on, but I wouldn't say it's difficult. To me, it's making sure guys are prepared to step up when their name is called."

Povich Gets Another Shot Against a Struggling Giants Lineup

Left-hander Cade Povich will start for Baltimore. He threw 5 2/3 solid innings in his last appearance at Pittsburgh, and this will be his second time out this season. Povich has never faced the Giants before in his three-year career.

He'll be up against Giants right-hander Adrian Houser, who is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA this year. Against the Orioles specifically, Houser is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts, including one last June with the White Sox when he coughed up three runs over 6 1/3 innings in a Baltimore loss.

San Francisco Can't Finish Off Chances

The Giants' winning streak ended Saturday. Despite out-hitting Baltimore 10-9, San Francisco never led after the second inning and went just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Manager Tony Vitello called it "a quirky night."

Starting pitcher Logan Webb took the blame. "I'm not putting the team in a good spot to win," Webb told the San Francisco Chronicle. "We score a run in the second, I gave it right back. We tied it again, and then I gave up two more. So it was just a bad job by me."

Second baseman Luis Arraez exited in the fifth inning Saturday with a right wrist contusion, adding another injury concern to San Francisco's clubhouse.

Sunday's rubber match is shaping up to be a battle between two teams trying to get healthy. First pitch coming up.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.