Mateo provides update on sore hip (plus other notes)

Shortstop Jorge Mateo said his right hip has improved and he should be available tonight if the Orioles need him to come off the bench.

Mateo felt some discomfort in the hip Wednesday night in D.C. while running up the first base line. The Orioles were off yesterday, which provided an extra day of rest.

“Probably tomorrow 100 percent,” he said. “I feel much better today.”

Mateo said he was “a little bit” concerned as he reduced his speed up the line on a ground ball in the second inning and walked off the field. He was moving today without any sign of a limp.

“I think (it was) something painful, but now it’s getting better,” he said.

“Something, I never felt that before, but I don’t think it’s going to be bothering me anymore.”

Manager Brandon Hyde said he’s hoping that Mateo is right about Saturday.

“He feels a lot better today,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but the off-day helped out and he’s been getting treatment for a couple days, and improving. So, I would think it would be the next couple days.”

Mateo’s eight stolen bases are tied for second-most in the majors. An injury to the lower body robs him of the kind of speed that separates him from so many other players.

It also raises the level of concern on the team.

“I’m going to rely on our medical staff,” Hyde said. “He’s got some hip discomfort. I think he feels confident that he feels OK and that he’ll be fine. You definitely don’t want to see speed guys have anything happen with their legs or their feet or whatever, but I think he feels confident that he’ll be OK.”

Gunnar Henderson gets his fourth start at shortstop. He’s made 10 at third base, where he’s committed three of his four errors.

The Orioles aren’t worried about shifting Henderson between positions. He has plenty of experience on the left side of the infield.

“I think he’s really comfortable at shortstop, and I think he’s still learning third base,” Hyde said. “The way our team fits right now, we like to see him in both those spots on days like today when Mateo’s not playing. So, no concern.”

Henderson had made 28 starts at third in the majors and 83 in the minors.

“He’s got a chance to be a really, really good third baseman,” Hyde said. “He’s still learning the position. He grew up playing shortstop his whole life and made a couple speed-of-the-game mistakes, honestly. But he adapts well, he understands, and he’ll be fine.”

Triple-A catcher Mark Kolozsvary is in the clubhouse today. He was on the taxi squad in D.C. and stayed with the team in the same role.

For the Tigers
Nick Maton 3B
Riley Greene CF
Javier Báez SS
Kerry Carpenter RF
Spencer Torkelson 1B
Matt Vierling LF
Miguel Cabrera DH
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Jake Rogers C

Michael Lorenzen RHP