Leftovers for breakfast

DETROIT – Tyler O’Neill tried to play through the neck soreness and had to succumb.

The Orioles put O’Neill on the 10-day injured list yesterday. He’s hoping to be back when eligible to return.

“That’s obviously the goal,” he said last night. “Just, unfortunately, dealing with some pain and immobility for the better part of a week. It’s just better to get it dealt with now and not have it lingering around over the course of the season.

“Hopefully, we can knock it out and be back out there as soon as possible.”

The issue began on the last homestand, leading to O’Neill’s 15^th career trip to the injured list but the first involving his neck.

“It was manageable for a little bit, but it just got to the point where it was impacting the work and the production I was able to accomplish in the batter’s box,” he said. “It’s not good for me, it’s not good for the team. Talking to the medical staff, we thought that it was best to just knock it out right now, hopefully come back on the minimum.

“I’m going to be working with the medical guys and strength staff here to see what we can do preventatively. Overall, I’m not too concerned about it. Obviously, we want to get it checked out and make sure we figure it out and are on the right treatment plan, which I think we are. I’m feeling better day by day, but I’m just really trying to open up that mobility. It hurts me looking left, and I’ve got to look left to the pitcher and look left to throw. So it was definitely leaking into my baseball activity and performance there. It’s just really unfortunate, but hopefully a couple days and I’ll come back stronger.”

O’Neill tried to adjust preset in the batter’s box to compensate, opening up differently and striding to a different position.

“It just wasn’t working right and feeling right,” he said. “I want to come back strong and come back being me.”

* Jordan Westburg was the Orioles’ designated hitter yesterday in Game 1, his sixth start in the role. He’s done it four times in the last six games and five in the last eight.

Manager Brandon Hyde has described Westburg as “banged up,” a condition that began in Toronto in the opening series.  

“Maybe a little bit,” Hyde said when asked whether Westburg’s physical condition is a DH factor. “He’s feeling a lot better, but it’s getting (Ramón) Urías to play third base and Jackson (Holliday) to play second and Gunnar (Henderson) at short.”

Westburg reached on an infield single in the first inning of Game 1 and was thrown out trying to steal. He singled again in the sixth and had an RBI infield single in the seventh. He began the day with five hits in his last 17 at-bats, including two doubles, a triple and a home run, and improved to 8-for-21 after his third single.

He struck out to end the game, but Westburg had at least three hits for the first time since going 4-for-5 with two home runs on March 29 at Rogers Centre.

Hyde put Westburg at third base in Game 2 and he singled again in the fourth inning for his ninth hit in 24 at-bats.

Whether he’s at second, third or restricted to DH duty, Westburg is heating up for a team that needs the offensive jolt.

* Heading into the doubleheader, relievers Yennier Cano and Seranthony Domínguez had made nine appearances this season without allowing an earned run. The Diamondbacks were the only other team to have two pitchers with at least nine outings and zero earned runs.

Domínguez replaced Charlie Morton last night and stranded a runner. He returned for the seventh inning and his streak died with Spencer Torkelson’s two-out, two run double. Grant Wolfram replaced him and let an inherited runner score.

The issue with Domínguez is the walks, seven in 9 2/3 innings. He hadn’t issued any in his last three appearances before last night. He’s allowed four hits and struck out 11 for the season.

Despite what happened last night, the angst over Domínguez’s spring training appears to be wasted energy. He was working on a few things, which he can do as a veteran with a guaranteed spot on the roster.

The 19.50 ERA was hideous, with 13 runs, 15 hits, five walks and five home runs surrendered in six innings. But the velocity was normal, he struck out 11 batters, and he responded when the games mattered.

* Brandon Young had his scheduled start Friday night postponed because of an ominous forecast calling for multiple popup showers. It didn’t stop him from walking to the mound.

Young stood on the tarp before the game’s status became official. He set, checked out his surroundings and went back to the clubhouse.

The scene will be replayed at other venues, though he’ll have to wait for his next major league opportunity after the Orioles optioned him yesterday.

“Every new place, I like to kind of notice the backdrop, kind of get a feel for it,” he explained. “I just want to get my head in a good place, feeling comfortable, look around and notice different things. Mid-pitch or in between pitches I take a breath and look at the same spot and it kind of resets myself. It just makes me a little bit more comfortable.”

* The Orioles recalled Wolfram yesterday and gave him No. 86 for his major league debut.

Only a diehard or deranged fan would remember the other Oriole to be assigned that number: right-hander Brooks Kriske in 2021.

Kriske was selected on waivers from the Yankees and released two months later. The Orioles selected him from the Reds in 2024 and he became a free agent two months later without appearing in a game for them.