The Orioles have had points retaining beginning pitchers wholesome and that solely heightens the priority with Grayson Rodriguez. The 24-year-old right-hander was scheduled to start out Monday in Toronto, however lower than 10 minutes earlier than the primary pitch, the Orioles introduced that Rodriguez was a late scratch and would get replaced by Albert Suárez. 

After 5 innings, the Orioles introduced that Rodriguez’s difficulty was lat/teres discomfort, which might be the realm within the higher again across the shoulder extending down towards the armpit/aspect. Rodriguez may very well be seen saying, “I do not really feel proper,” earlier than the sport and that clearly triggered the pitching change.

Rodriguez is 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 130 strikeouts in opposition to 36 walks in 116 2/3 innings this season. If Rodriguez misses prolonged time, the Orioles’ skinny rotation can be additional uncovered. They’ve already misplaced Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells for the season. 

The entrance workplace did make strikes to amass two starters earlier than the commerce deadline in Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers, however neither is an ace-caliber starter like Cy Younger contender Corbin Burnes, who sits atop the O’s rotation. With out Rodriguez, the playoff rotation would go Burnes, Eflin, Rogers and Dean Kremer, in all chance — although Suárez might additionally determine — which does not look deep sufficient to make a deep playoff run. 

The Orioles have a battle down the stretch, too, having entered Monday tied atop the AL East with the Yankees. 

They will be holding out hope that this difficulty for Rodriguez is minor and does not hold him out for much longer.