Mullins aiming for return later this week (and more notes)

Cedric Mullins remains confident that he can avoid the injured list as he recovers from tightness in his right quadriceps.

Mullins is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game. He sustained the injury Saturday night in the second inning while running from first to third base on Jordan Westburg’s fly ball down the right field line.

The ball sliced foul, and Mullins walked off the field with head athletic trainer Brian Ebel.

Asked how he’s progressing, Mullins replied, “I’d say pretty good.”

“It’s just one of those weird things where, as I’m getting work done to it, the soreness kind of accumulates from that,” he said. “Just continuing with the progression there. But I think it’s coming along pretty well.”

Mullins is hoping to return later this week. The Orioles conclude their series against the Dodgers Wednesday afternoon and travel to St. Petersburg, Fla. for four games against the Rays.

“That’s the goal, depending on how I continue to progress,” he said. “The plan is to get back out running pretty soon. Moving around, hitting feels fine, without any issues. Throwing, I’m going to try today. Shouldn’t have any issues with that, I don’t think. It’s just kind of baseball activities, and then running is the most important part.”

Mullins missed almost a month with a groin strain, struggled at the plate after returning to the active roster on June 24 and finally began to heat up. He collected nine hits in the last six games.

“Getting injured never feels good,” he said. “Basically what I felt was tightness right over the quad kind of building up, especially after the run. I felt as if I kept pushing it was going to lead to more problems, potentially like season-ending, so I think it was smart of me to come out and just address it and continue to get better.

“Being able to hit without any issues is going to keep the swing where it is. That’s the goal, at least, is to continue to have some movement. But yeah, having some momentum, feel the swing come back, and then having to deal with this is always frustrating.”

Predicting a return is challenging for Mullins because he isn’t accustomed to these types of interruptions to his season.

“I’ve never dealt with this accumulation of injuries before,” he said. “It’s really hard to tell a timeline for that.”

A second stop on the injured list still isn’t a consideration.

“As of right now, no, I don’t see that,” he said.

* Austin Voth was supposed to start today in the Florida Complex League, his first appearance on his injury rehab assignment, but the game was postponed due to rain.

Voth hasn’t pitched since June 13 due to soreness in his right elbow that began in spring training.

* Double-A Bowie’s Anthony Servideo was placed on the seven-day injured list. The third-round pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Mississippi was batting .223/.305/.307 with nine doubles, a triple and a home run in 50 games after moving up from Single-A Delmarva.

* Baltimore native Angel Reese, captain of the national champion LSU women’s basketball team, is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Also throwing out the first pitch is 7-year-old Kalliope Adams, who was diagnosed with b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2020.

Adams, from Glen Arm, is on the field to watch batting practice with her family as a guest of the Orioles through the Casey Cares foundation, which provides free activities to critically ill children and their families.

Adams and younger sisters Tallula and Reilly attended an Urban Pirates Party in the Inner Harbor and watched Riverdance at The Lyric prior to their Camden Yards experience. 

* This has been a special day at the ballpark, which includes 17-year-old Luke Brockway of Catonsville getting to assist manager Brandon Hyde tonight as part of his Make-A-Wish experience.

Brockway, who’s going into his senior year at Mount Saint Joseph High School, used to be a pitcher until he was diagnosed in 2020 with a heart condition that thickens the two bottom chambers beyond average size and prevents him from participating in sports.

The Orioles had a No. 7 Orioles jersey and City Connect cap waiting for Brockway, who sat next to Hyde during the pregame media session. He did most of the talking, which delighted Hyde.

Brockway stood behind the cage during batting practice and met more players.

Who’s the manager if Hyde is ejected?

“Luke is,” Hyde said. “I might go at the home plate meeting. Get an early start. Sounds like he knows what he’s doing. We’re in great hands.”

Here’s more from Steve Melewski.

For the Dodgers
Mookie Betts 2B
Freddie Freeman 1B
Will Smith C
Max Muncy 3B
J.D. Martinez DH
David Peralta LF
Jason Heyward RF
Miguel Rojas SS
James Outman CF

Michael Grove RHP