Stewart goes on injured list (plus lineups, Urías scratched)

The Orioles have placed outfielder DJ Stewart on the 60-day injured list with a right knee osteochondral defect and selected the contract of reliever César Valdez from Triple-A Norfolk.

Putting Stewart on the 60-day IL created a spot for Valdez on the 40-man roster. Stewart wasn't going to return before the season ended on Oct. 3.

An osteochondral defect, according to a quick Internet search, refers to a focal area of damage that involves both the cartilage and a piece of underlying bone. Stewart will undergo a surgical procedure in the next few weeks to clean up the knee and should be ready for spring training.

"It's been going on for a while, really for probably the last couple months," said manager Brandon Hyde. "He's been getting treatment on his knee and everybody felt like the right time was to shut him down, take care of it and be ready for spring training next year."

Stewart batted .204/.324/.374 in 100 games, with 10 doubles, 12 home runs, 33 RBIs, 44 walks and 89 strikeouts in 318 plate appearances.

The walks rank third behind Cedric Mullins (55) and Trey Mancini (48) in far fewer games.

"I think DJ's shown flashes of the kind of hitter he can be," Hyde said. "I think the knee has bothered him really the second half. It's hard to produce when your base doesn't feel good underneath you. You look at what (Anthony) Santander's been going through, too. Now he's feeling better, so his swing looks different, he's got more bat speed.

"I just think that DJ never kind of got going this year. I think he showed spurts. He obviously has above-average power. I thought he was making strides defensively in the first half, then didn't play as much outfield in the second half, partially because of the knee. But I love the way he walks. I think he takes a good at-bat, now it's just about putting up a little bit better numbers and continuing to improve."

Hyde doesn't know whether the Orioles will call up an outfielder to replace Stewart.

"I think we're day-to-day right now, honestly, with everything," he said. "We've got a bullpen game today, we beefed up the pitching a little bit and we're going to see where we are. We meet after every game, where we are roster-wise.

"Trey has had that sore oblique that feels better today, so he's in there. We know Ramón (Urías) has been battling leg soreness, so he's day-to-day all the time, also, so we're just trying to manage this roster the best we possibly can the last couple weeks."

Valdez has a 5.76 ERA and 1.632 WHIP in 38 appearances over 45 1/3 innings. He's recorded eight saves.

Valdez's most recent appearance with Norfolk was Sunday, when he tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He didn't allow a run in two innings in his previous outing and had a 1.42 ERA in 12 2/3 innings with the Tides.

The Orioles are using Conner Greene to open their bullpen game rather than Thomas Eshelman, who has starter's experience. Greene is the club's 15th different starter this season.

"Esh isn't really that built up, either, to be honest with you," Hyde said. "He was throwing out of the bullpen at Norfolk. He does have starter experience, but we decided to give Greenie an opportunity there to be kind of an opener before a bullpen game.

"I just like Greenie's stuff and I think he's got an opportunity to face the top/middle of their order first time through and hopefully he puts us in a good situation for the rest of the game."

Mullins is back in center field and atop the order tonight in Philadelphia, still needing one home run for the 30/30 club.

Mancini is playing first base and batting cleanup. Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup.

Urías is playing second base.

Phillies right-hander Adonis Medina is making his second major league start and third appearance spread over two seasons. He worked two scoreless innings in relief Thursday and allowed two hits.

Medina started against the Blue Jays on Sept. 20, 2020 and allowed two runs and three hits in four innings. He walked three batters and struck out four.

Over seven minor league seasons, Medina has registered a 3.78 ERA and 1.245 WHIP in 540 2/3 innings. He's made 17 starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this summer and posted a 5.05 ERA and 1.433 WHIP in 67 2/3 innings.

For the Orioles
Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Anthony Santander RF
Trey Mancini 1B
Ramón Urías 2B
Pedro Severino C
Pat Valaika SS
Kelvin Gutiérrez 3B
Conner Greene RHP

For the Phillies
Odúbel Herrera CF
Jean Segura 2B
Bryce Harper RF
J.T. Realmuto C
Brad Miller 1B
Andrew McCutchen LF
Didi Gregorius SS
Freddy Galvis 3B
Adonis Medina RHP

Update: Urías has been scratched from the lineup.

Cedric Mullins CF
Austin Hays LF
Anthony Santander RF
Trey Mancini 1B
Pedro Severino C
Pat Valaika 2B
Richie Martin SS
Kelvin Gutiérrez 3B
Conner Greene RHP