Orioles’ Sugano thinks he can make next start; Updates on Kremer, Rutschman, Westburg

BALTIMORE—After getting hit on the right foot in Sunday’s game by the Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim, starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano said he’s feeling fine and expects to make his next start, which would be scheduled for this weekend in Toronto.

“It didn’t get swollen as much as I expected,” Sugano said through his translator. “I’m ready for my next start.”

Sugano wanted to stay in the game but left after he was hit in the fifth inning.

“The pain didn’t go away, so I thought it was difficult to continue,” he said. “Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure what happened, but it really hurt so I couldn’t pitch any more.”

Sugano, who’s 10-8 with a 4.51 ERA, has started 27 times, one behind Dean Kremer, who’s leading the team.

“As a player, the ultimate goal is to go through a season without injuries. I’m happy to be in the position to hopefully get through the entire s without an injury,” he said.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino was checking on Sugano and Kremer, who left Friday night’s game with discomfort in his right forearm.

Sugano and Kremer were scheduled to play catch.

“He threw the other day,” Mansolino said of Kremer. “Checked all the boxes, looked good. Today’s the big hump, get over that, and I think if he throws today with more intensity, then we’ll feel really good about the plan.”

Mansolino said over the weekend that Kremer’s next start would be skipped but that he wouldn’t be placed on the injured list if he threw without pain.

He hopes that catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain, will take batting practice with the team in Toronto this weekend.

“He might stay back here. We’re still working out some details,” Mansolino said.

Third baseman Jordan Westburg is nearing a rehab assignment for his sprained right ankle.

“Hoping he’s out playing rehab this weekend,” Mansolino said. “Still the same issue, inside of the foot bothering him when he throws. Everything else seems OK.”

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill will play for Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab assignment for his right wrist injury.

Correction: I neglected to include longtime Orioles chronicler David Hill as among the short list of writers who covered 2,131 and were in attendance last Saturday night. David was the founder of “Outside Pitch,” and is currently living in Seattle and conducted an excellent recent interview with Cal for Baltimore magazine.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.