Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Viewed as top catcher over Basallo
Rotowire
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Monday that Rutschman remains "front and center" as the organization's top catcher, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Though Baltimore signed Samuel Basallo to a $67 million extension in August, the 21-year-old is regarded as a bat-first prospect who won't yet be entrusted to handle a full-time catching role in the big leagues. Basallo instead projects to see most of his reps at first base and designated hitter in 2026 while occasionally mixing in behind the plate, so long as Rutschman maintains health. When available this past season, Rutschman continued to provide value defensively, but his offensive production continued its downward trend from his 2022 rookie campaign. Over 365 plate appearances in 2025, Rutschman turned in a .673 OPS and supplied underwhelming counting statistics (nine home runs, zero steals, 37 runs and 29 RBI) in his 90 games. Set to turn 28 in February, Rutschman still has time to regain his prior form at the plate, but investing in him in 2026 fantasy drafts may require some blind faith on the part of fantasy managers.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Not starting Thursday
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Rutschman is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rays.
Rutschman started at catcher in each of the first two games of the series, but he'll get a breather during Thursday's matinee. Alex Jackson is behind the dish and batting eighth for the Orioles.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Orioles activated Rutschman (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Rutschman has missed the last month-plus with a right oblique strain but will rejoin the Orioles' active roster for the final week of the regular season. He and Samuel Basallo should share catching duties in the final week, with both players also likely to see action action at designated hitter. Basallo could play some first base, as well.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Cleared for rehab assignment
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Rutschman (oblique) will start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Rutschman has been working through a mild right oblique strain since mid-August. He participated in batting practice over the weekend, and the 27-year-old catcher has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Per Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun, Rutschman is expected to be with Norfolk for about a week before being activated from the 10-day IL.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Closing in on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rutschman (oblique) is likely to start a rehab assignment at some point this week, MLB.com reports.
Rutschman took batting practice Friday and Saturday amid his recovery from a strained oblique, putting him on track to return to game action in the minor leagues in the imminent future. It's unclear how many at-bats the Orioles will want Rutschman to pick up in the minors before rejoining the major-league roster, but he still has a chance to be activated from the injured list before the end of the season.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Slated for BP this weekend
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Rutschman (oblique) will take batting practice this weekend, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Rutschman began hitting off a tee this past Friday and will take another big step forward with his hitting progression this weekend. It's not clear whether the Orioles will ask him to go out on a rehab assignment, but either way he would seem to have a good shot to be activated from the 10-day injured list at some point next week. Rutschman has been shelved since mid-August with a right oblique strain.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Takes swings Friday
Rotowire
Rutschman (oblique) took swings off a tee Friday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rutschman took swings for the first time since being placed on the injured list Aug. 21 due to a strained right oblique. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Friday that the Orioles are still expecting to get Rutschman back for the last week or two of the regular season.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Hasn't resumed swinging
Rotowire
Rutschman (oblique) has not yet resumed swinging but is hopeful to return before the end of the regular season, MLB.com reports.
The last-place Orioles hope that Rutschman will be recovered from an oblique strain with around 10 days or two weeks before the end of the season, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, so fantasy managers shouldn't anticipate the star catcher being a factor until mid-September at the earliest. With Gary Sanchez (knee) also on the injured list, the lefty-hitting Samuel Basallo should continue working on the strong side of a platoon with the righty-hitting Alex Jackson behind the dish.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Lands on IL with strained oblique
Rotowire
The Orioles placed Rutschman on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a mild right oblique strain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Rutschman missed time earlier this season with a left oblique strain, and now he'll be down at least until late August after tweaking his other oblique. Samuel Basallo is doing the catching for the Orioles on Thursday and will be the everyday guy behind the dish while Rutschman is out.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Scratched with abdomen issue
Rotowire
Rutschman was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Sox due to right abdominal discomfort, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It's unclear when the injury first surfaced for Rutschman, but he also sat out Monday and has gone just 3-for-29 at the plate in his past seven contests. The severity of the issue is unclear, so the 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day until more information is available. Alex Jackson replaced Rutschman in Tuesday's lineup, and the former would likely split time with Samuel Basallo behind the plate should an IL stint be necessary.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Receiving Monday off
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Rutschman is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
After starting behind the dish in each of the Orioles' last three contests, Rutschman will get a breather as Baltimore opens its two-game set in Boston. Top prospect Samuel Basallo will receive his first career start behind the plate Monday, after he made his MLB debut as a designated hitter during Sunday's 12-0 win over the Astros.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Homers in win
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Rutschman went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 3-2 win over the Athletics.
Rutschman put the Orioles on the board with a two-run blast in the first inning, his first homer since returning from the injured list July 28. The 27-year-old has been sharp in 10 games since his return, hitting safely in nine of them with eight extra-base hits, seven RBI and six runs scored. For the season, he's slashing .240/.325/.401 with nine homers, 27 RBI and 37 runs scored across 317 plate appearances.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Resting for early game
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Rutschman is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Blue Jays.
Rutschman made a triumphant return to the lineup in Monday's 11-4 win over Toronto following a five-plus-week stay on the injured list due to an oblique strain. He started behind the plate and batted cleanup in the win, finishing with two doubles, one single, two runs and two RBI over five plate appearances. Alex Jackson will step in behind the plate for the first game of the day Tuesday, but Rutschman should be in line to handle catching duties for the nightcap.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Big night in return to lineup
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Rutschman went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 11-4 win over the Blue Jays.
Rutschman returned to action for the first time since June 19 and tallied his fifth three-hit game of the season, highlighted by a two-run double in the third inning. The 27-year-old is slashing .235/.324/.385 with eight homers, 22 RBI and 33 runs scored across 281 plate appearances, and Monday's performance provides optimism he can finish the season strong.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Could be reinstated soon
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Manager Tony Mansolino said Friday that Rutschman (oblique) will catch the next two games at Triple-A Norfolk and could be reinstated soon after, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
An earlier report stated there was a possibility that Rutschman would return Friday, but he'll need at least a few more days before rejoining the Orioles. Rutschman hasn't appeared in an MLB game in over a month due to a strained left oblique. He's played in two rehab games so far, going 1-for-6 with a double, two walks and a strikeout.
Rutschman (oblique) is expected to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Rutschman is approaching a rehab assignment -- likely the last step in his recovery from a strained left oblique. The catcher has been on the shelf since June 21, so he may require a longer stay in Norfolk. Rutschman posted a .691 OPS before the injury.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Out again Saturday
Rotowire
Rutschman (abdomen) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.
Rutschman was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to abdominal tightness, and he'll sit out a second consecutive game while he continues to recover. Gary Sanchez will start behind the plate and bat seventh. Per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, Rutschman underwent an MRI on Saturday.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Getting day off
Rotowire
Rutschman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
The 27-year-old will receive his first day off since June 1 while Gary Sanchez starts at catcher and Gunnar Henderson serves as the Orioles' designated hitter. Though Rutschman's production has been disappointing relative to his draft-day price, he's picked up the pace over the last 11 games, slashing .366/.438/.561 with two home runs, eight runs and four RBI.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Swinging hot bat to begin June
Rotowire
Rutschman went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Angels.
Rutschman turned in his fifth multi-hit game of the month, as he's begun to find a groove at the dish recently. Through 41 at-bats in June, the switch-hitting backstop is batting .366 with two homers, two doubles, four RBI and eight runs scored. Rutschman has played in 64 of Baltimore's 69 games in 2025, so he's offered a consistent level of availability at a position than can be hard to find near-everyday players in fantasy, though is .699 OPS is still underwhelming.
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Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Swats homer
Rotowire
Rutschman went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.
Rutschman clubbed his sixth home run of the campaign, tagging Emerson Hancock for a game-tying solo shot in the sixth frame. The catcher has gone 4-for-9 in his two appearances in June, which could provide a spark for Rutschman after he stumbled out of the gates this season. Through 222 plate appearances, Rutschman is slashing .214/.306/.352.
