Orioles’ Mateo, O’Neill closer to rehab stints; Rutschman scratched with abdominal tightness; Lefties out against Fried; Hunter Bigge update

NEW YORK—Infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow injury, is getting closer to a rehab assignment, interim manager Tony Mansolino said on Friday before the Orioles began a three game series with the New York Yankees.

“There’s some baseball activities starting,” Mansolino said. “We were told in the beginning that it wasn’t super serious. There was a problem. We’re taking care of the problem.”

Mateo, who was playing center field, collided with rightfielder Heston Kjerstad on May 31^st.

“My guess is that in the near future, he’ll be out’” on a rehab assignment,” Mansolino said.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, whose rehab assignment was halted last Saturday, could return to Triple-A Norfolk as soon as Tuesday, Mansolino said. He’s been out with a left shoulder injury.

“If all goes well, we’ll start seeing him play some ball soon,” Mansolino said.

Rutschman scratched: Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman was a late scratch against the Yankees because of left abdominal tightness. Rutschman was supposed to be the designated hitter. Jackson Holliday will start in his place.

Gary Sánchez was already scheduled to catch against New York left-hander Max Fried.

Lefties sitting: Left-handed hitters Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn are not in the starting lineup against Fried. Holliday also was supposed to be sit but moved into the lineup when Rutschman was scratched as the DH.

“There are a couple of guys not playing today that are Max Fried considerations,” Mansolino said. “There are a couple of guys we thought we’d have to scrape up off the ground after playing four games in Tampa, Gunnar being one. Gunnar scored a run late in the game … He plays so hard. Gunnar doesn’t have the ability to do anything less than 100 percent.”

The Orioles split a grueling four-game series in Tampa.

“It was hot, man,” Mansolino said. “It was like playing in the jungle.”

The Orioles didn’t take batting practice for the last three games of the series. The Orioles did take batting practice for Friday night’s game but won’t for Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. start or Sunday’s 11:35 a.m. start.

Henderson hitting but not for power: Henderson has a 13-game hitting streak and his average is a season-high .282 despite hitting only eight home runs and driving in 22 runs.

He’s always adjusting his swing.

“Ultimately, your body changes how it feels throughout the whole season,” Henderson said. “Little minor tweaks here and there. Baseball’s a game of adjustments. The pitcher ultimately is going to adjust when you’re swinging well. You’ve got to adjust to him as well. That’s the beauty of baseball is figuring out those little micro-adjustments you’ve got to make.”

Holliday at second: Holliday said that after 59 games at second base and only four errors, he’s adjusting to that position.

“It’s definitely getting more comfortable,” Holliday said. “Being over there every night and getting to play one position and being locked up with Gunnar. It’s a lot of fun to be able to share that with him.”

Hunter Bigge update: Tampa Bay relief pitcher Hunter Bigge, who was hit in the face by a 105-mph foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman in the seventh inning of Thursday night’s 4-1 over the Rays, appears to be doing better.

“Yeah, I got to see him earlier today,” Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters before Tampa Bay’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers on Friday. “Mom and Dad got in, and his wife, Casey, was there.

“Getting to see Hunter and talk to him, he’s in good spirits, not a ton of information other than that. But for me, personally, witnessing what took place yesterday, to see how he was today and being able to interact, things are heading in a really good direction.”

Rutschman pulled an inside pitch into the Rays’ dugout and immediately looked distraught.

“Yeah, I mean, I saw it off my bat,” Rutschman said Thursday. “It’s really, really scary.”

The game was halted nearly 10 minutes as emergency medical personnel treated Bigge in the dugout while a cart was brought in to take him off the field. When Bigge was placed on the cart, he gave a thumbs up, providing an anxious crowd with a reason to cheer.

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