Orioles’ Sánchez out 8 to 10 weeks with knee injury; Updates on Rutschman, Bradish, Wells, Povich, Suárez

BALTIMORE—Orioles catcher Gary Sánchez, who sprained his right knee during Saturday’s game in Atlanta, is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks, interim manager Tony Mansolino said on Tuesday before the Orioles-Mets game at Camden Yards.

“There’s always a scenario where it could go really good for Gary, and it can be a little bit earlier. The initial estimates are probably that,” he said.

Starting catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique, is improving, Mansolino said.

“My understanding is he took dry swings earlier today,” Mansolino said. “Intensity level probably fairly decent with that.”

Mansolino said he hopes Rutschman will soon take batting practice, although he’s not expected back until after the All-Star break.

“Once they start swinging the bat, it takes off a little bit, but those initial first couple of days when he starts swinging the bat, the soreness doesn’t come back.”

The Orioles have four catchers on the injured list — Rutschman, Sánchez, Chadwick Tromp and Maverick Handley, who’s on the concussion injured list.

Without them, Jacob Stallings and the newly acquired Alex Jackson will split time behind the plate.

Sánchez has had two stints on the injured, first for right wrist inflammation, and now the sprained knee. In between his time on the IL, Sánchez hit .295 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

“It is going to be tough. He’s been swinging the bat so good,” Mansolino said. “He hit a lot of big homers. He carried us in a lot of ways.”

The Orioles have a season-high 14 players on the injured list.

Starting pitchers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are in Sarasota. They’re both recovering from right elbow surgeries in June 2024.

“Wells will throw a live [batting practice] soon, within the next few days,” Mansolino said. “Bradish had his second live, and he’s progressing to a multi [innings] live here soon, and from there we’ll get him into [rehab] games. He’s got to check the boxes.”

Povich seeks return: Left-handed starter Cade Povich is on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation and had a rough rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on June 26^th. He allowed five runs, two unearned, on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, and his rehab assignment was ended.

“Everything’s feeling good,” he said. “I think we kind of had the idea that when we went to Norfolk, everything was pretty good. In the first inning I tried to make a play. It was a freak thing. My foot kind of caught and twisted in a way that put a little pressure on the hip. It could be the same thing. It could be something a little different. We’re just trying to work back and everything’s feeling good right now.”

Povich went for a second opinion on the hip, and the Orioles’ original diagnosis was affirmed.

“I wish I could be back now,” Povich said. “With All-Star break coming up, hopefully get a rehab outing soon and hopefully that All-Star break is enough to work back to a normal schedule. I’m going to listen to what our staff says and what the trainers say and how they want to roll with it. Hopefully, it’s much sooner or later.”

Povich threw a bullpen session a few days ago and has a two-inning session scheduled on Wednesday. Being idle is difficult.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever missed a start in my baseball career,” he said. “It’s been tough not being on the field, not being with the guys. It’s definitely made me work harder in this rehab to work harder, to stay on the field.”

Notes: Albert Suárez, who has been on the 60-day injured list with a right rotator cuff injury, hopes to throw a bullpen session at the end of the week. … Starter Dean Kremer has announced he’ll play for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson said he’d like to play for Team USA in the WBC. “That would be something I’d love to do, is being able to represent the country,” he said. Major League Baseball announced that Team USA will play its first game against Brazil in Houston on March 6^th. They’ll play Great Britain on March 7^th, Mexico on March 9^th and Italy on March 10^th. If they advance to the quarterfinals, they’ll be held in Houston on March 13^th and 14^th. The championship round is in Houston from March 15^th-17^th.

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