This, that and the other

Catcher David Bañuelos made his major league debut last summer, receiving one at-bat, because he was on the taxi squad and the Orioles were forced into an injury-related roster move before first pitch. Bañuelos is on the IL with an oblique strain, but catcher Maverick Handley could get the same opportunity.

Backup Gary Sánchez went to the IL last night with right wrist inflammation. Manager Brandon Hyde described it later as “a little stress reaction in his hand.” The Orioles brought Handley to Baltimore just in case, put him on the taxi squad and selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Handley celebrated his 27^th birthday last month. He’s spent plenty of time in major league clubhouses since the Orioles chose him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Stanford University. He was a taxi squad regular before Bañuelos became more of a fixture, and he’s received spring training invites.

The No. 98 is more appropriate for a defensive lineman, but Handley is happy to be the first Orioles player to wear it. Now, he just needs to get it into a game.

Sánchez will be out at least 10 days. He’s off to a slow start with three hits in 30 at-bats and he’s struck out 12 times.

The injury had nothing to do with Sánchez being hit twice by pitches Sunday.

“It’s just from swinging the bat and he’s been getting treatment on it, and he played two days in a row in Detroit,” Hyde said. “It was sore today.”

The Orioles signed Sánchez to an $8.5 million contract to replace backup James McCann, the clubhouse leader last year who’s got an opt-out in his minor league deal with the Braves. He could be a consideration if Sánchez’s injury keeps him out for an extended period.

It was another tough injury day with infielder Jordan Westburg going on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain.

“It can be deflating, you know?” said first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. “Westy is a huge part of this lineup and this team and we need him back as soon as possible, but it’s kind of the nature of the game. We experienced it a lot last year, especially. Hopefully we can avoid more guys dropping like that.

“We get Westy back as soon as possible, get him healthy, and yeah, sucks. We’ve got (Emmanuel) Rivera here. He’s a really good player. Did a lot of really good things for us last year, and he’s a very capable guy. We’ll keep it rolling.”

* Cedric Mullins is approaching another milestone with the Orioles.

Mullins needs to drive in two more runs to become the sixth player in club history with at least 300 RBIs and 100 stolen bases, according to STATS research. He’s swiped 130 bags.

Brady Anderson finished with 744 RBIs and 307 steals. Brian Roberts (521/278), Al Bumbry (339/252) and Paul Blair (567/167) also are on the list.

The fifth player might come as a surprise.

Mark Belanger, the eight-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop and career .228/.300/.280 hitter in 18 seasons, had 385 RBIs and 166 steals.

More Mullins: He began last night as one of five players leading their team in hits, home runs, RBIs and walks this season.

Aaron Judge, Fernando Tatis Jr., Kyle Tucker and James Wood were the others.

And more Mullins: He ranked third in the American League last night in on-base percentage at .421, the best by an Orioles player through 25 games of a season since Manny Machado’s .429 in 2018.

In the last 40 years, the only Orioles to finish top three in the AL in OBP are Nick Markakis in 2008 (third) and Melvin Mora in 2004 (first).

* I shared yesterday that Tomoyuki Sugano, John Means, John Stephens, Mike Mussina and José Bautista are the only Orioles rookies to go seven innings and not walk a batter in back-to-back starts, according to STATS research.

There’s more to this nugget.

The only Orioles to pitch seven-plus walk-less innings in three consecutive starts are Billy Loes (three in 1957), Dave McNally (three in 1970) and Scott McGregor (four in 1979).

Sugano went five innings last night and walked one.

* Sugano was asked about facing Aaron Judge. They already have a brief history. This wasn't new.

Judge singled twice and struck out last night.

“I actually faced him during spring training and I gave up a walk and I got booed," he said through his interpreter. "So I made sure I don't give out a walk this time.”

* Teams had combined for a .280 average and 11.64 runs per game at Camden Yards before last night, highest of any ballpark.