Jorge

Mateo

Mateo got the start in center field against the White Sox on Saturday and reached in three of his four plate appearances, including a two-run blast in the fifth inning off Davis Martin for his first home run of the season.

An MRI performed Thursday showed only a mild strain, so the team thinks this will be a brief absence. Still, this means all three Orioles starting outfielders are currently on the IL, though Colton Cowser, at least, should be back early next week. Mullins, the team’s best player over the first four weeks of the season, had come in at just .184/.227/.340 in his last 27 games. The Orioles will likely have Dylan Carlson and Jorge Mateo split time in center for now. Cowser can take over there next week.

It’s notable that Mullins is sitting for the third time in the last four games for the Orioles, this time with Jorge Mateo taking over in center field against another right-handed starter. The 30-year-old is hitting just .226/.320/.446 with 10 homers and seven steals through 49 games. He typically gets a break against tougher left-handers so it’s concerning that Baltimore is keeping him on the bench against right-handers the past couple games in favor of Mateo and Dylan Carlson.

The Orioles activated Ramon Urias from the injured list, and needed a spot, so Carlson, who is 0-for-15 at the big league level this season, will be sent back down. Jorge Mateo should serve as the fourth outfielder now.

Holliday has been seeing the ball well of late, hitting .268 (11-for-41) with one homer and one steal over his last 15 games. It’ll be veteran Jorge Mateo getting an opportunity to face Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic.

Mateo led off the third inning with a single off of Skubal, swiped second base and took third on a ground ball before being stranded there. He then led off the fifth inning with a single off of the star southpaw, again pilfered second, and again the O’s were unable to cash him in. With the two-hit effort, the 29-year-old speedster is now hitting .136/.136/.182 with zero homers, zero RBI and five stolen bases in 22 plate appearances on the season.

The 21-year-old phenom will get a breather with tough left-hander MacKenzie Gore toeing the slab for the Nationals. Jorge Mateo will start in his place at second base and will bat ninth for the O’s on Thursday. Holliday is off to a slow start overall at the plate this season, slashing just .234/.300/.375 with a pair of homers, eight RBI, one stolen base and a 17/6 K/BB ratio in his first 70 plate appearances.

Mateo gets his first start of the year after coming in as a replacement for Thursday’s opener. The 29-year-old dealt with an elbow injury this spring, but is obviously feeling better. Jackson Holliday slides back to second base, and Ramon Urias will open the contest on the bench.

Mateo is seeing his first action since undergoing Tommy John surgery. While Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had previously ruled out the 29-year-old infielder for Opening Day, it’s clear that Mateo is making good progress. His availability in the first week of the regular season will depend on how much he can play over the rest of spring training. Either way, Mateo seems to have progressed enough that he’ll debut in April at the latest.

Mateo had done a “full slate” of defensive drills on Monday and progressed to batting practice on the field on Tuesday. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo was “progressing extremely well,” and Mateo is still holding out hope that he can be ready for Opening Day. He will need to get in spring training games soon if there is any hope of that happening.