Orioles’ Henderson hopes he’ll return in a few days; Mullins runs in rehab; Lester clears waivers

PHILADELPHIA—Infielder Gunnar Henderson left Tuesday night’s game with lower back discomfort and isn’t in the lineup for Wednesday night’s game. against the Philadelphia Phillies. Henderson missed two games in San Francisco and Milwaukee with a similar injury last month.

“Feeling a lot better. I think it was the same deal that happened a little bit earlier in the year,” Henderson said. “It tightened up on me out there. They felt like it was probably good not to try and force it.”

The Orioles have a day off on Thursday, and Henderson hopes he’ll be ready for Friday night’s game against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards.

“I would think so. The way it progressed last time, I think it’s pretty much the exact same thing,” Henderson said. “Just a couple of days and be ready to go.”

Henderson said there wasn’t a precise cause.

“I think it was kind of a mix of things and then a pretty soft bed here,” Henderson said. “It was actually on a plant on the field. I’ve never had a problem with it swinging and even in my last at-bat, I didn’t feel it too much. It kind of caught on me out there. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the turf at Tampa, probably be about the same thing [as last month], a couple of days and ready to go.”

Mullins stays with team: Centerfielder Cedric Mullins, who’s on the 15-day injured list for the second time this season with a right adductor groin strain, is traveling with the team,and isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again.

“I’m doing well. Hitting, I haven’t had any issues with that,” Mullins said. “Throwing’s fine. Today, I’m going to be running in the field. I don’t know what percentage we’re shooting for yet. Mobility is getting there in terms of stretching, just trying to keep as busy as possible while recovering as well.”

Mullins is traveling with the team.

“That’s really not up to me,” he said. “Right now, I think the goal is to keep with the club.”

Manager Brandon Hyde didn’t offer specifics on Mullins’ return.

“It’s really up to him and how he responds to running,” Hyde said. “Doing some cutting and agility stuff, and hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

Notes: Utilityman Josh Lester passed through outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.  .. Third baseman Max Wagner hit his 10^th home run, a two-run homer, as High-A Aberdeen beat Jersey Shore, 4-2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Wagner had four hits in the second game, which the IronBirds lost, 3-2. … First baseman Elencia Placencia had three hits in Single-A Delmarva’s 5-3 loss to Kannapolis.