Orioles’ Rutschman scratched with left ankle soreness; Albernaz on Eflin; O’s-Giants starting lineups

BALTIMORE—Catcher Adley Rutschman was scratched from the Orioles’ lineup about two hours before Saturday’s O’s-Giants game because of left ankle soreness. Rutschman is hitting .294 with three RBIs and an .855 OPS.

UPDATE: Rutschman has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Get the details here.

Rutschman had two stints on the injured list last season with strained obliques on each side and was limited to 90 games.

He was replaced in the lineup by Samuel Basallo, who was originally the designated hitter. Ryan Mountcastle will be the DH.

Tyler O’Neill is out of the lineup again. He was scratched before Friday night’s game because of illness.

“He’s going to go through the day, pregame, see how he’s feeling,” manager Craig Albernaz said.

Albernaz talks with Eflin

Starting pitcher Zach Eflin had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz says he’s spoken with the 32-year-old right-hander.

“It’s tough,” Albernaz said. “You don’t bet against Zach Eflin, especially with the back surgery he had, coming back. I think everyone realized he got to back to himself. He looked great. It’s part of being a professional athlete. You have these speed bumps across the way in your career.

“It’s another speed bump for Zach. I know he’s going to attack the rehab process as the pro he is. We love having him around the clubhouse because he’s a great leader. It will be good to have him around. It’s just another challenge for him. He’s going to hit it head on.”

Albernaz throws batting practice

Unlike many major league managers, the 43-year-old Albernaz, a former catcher, occasionally throws batting practice.

“I love throwing BP.  I always did,” Albernaz said. He threw it when he was a coach in Cleveland and San Francisco.

“It’s whatever the hitting coaches want,” he said. “They ask me to throw BP. I’m a willing and able-bodied man, so I can do some things. Even though I am the manager, I do enjoy throwing BP, but when I ‘m asked, I’ll throw it for sure. I love giving up nukes, home runs. It’s fun, too.”

Orioles-Giants starting lineups

Orioles

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Taylor Ward-LF

Pete Alonso-1B

Samuel Basallo-C

Ryan Mountcastle-DH

Leody Taveras-CF

Colton Cowser-RF

Coby Mayo-3B

Jeremiah Jackson-2B

Chris Bassitt-RHP

Giants

Willy Adames-SS

Luis Arraez-2B

Matt Chapman-3B

Rafael Devers-1B

Casey Schmitt-DH

Jung Hoo Lee-RF

Helliot Ramos-LF

Patrick Bailey-C

Harrison Bader-CF

Logan Webb-RHP

Notes: Devers is 10-for-20 (.500) with three home runs and five RBIs against Bassitt. Alonso is 2-for-17 (.118) with a home run and three RBIs against Webb.

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