O'Neill removed from Orioles' lineup, Eflin throws, Mullins stays hot and more

The Orioles have scratched Tyler O’Neill from tonight’s lineup due to neck discomfort.

Ramón Laureano comes off the bench to play left field and Heston Kjerstad moves to right. Ryan Mountcastle rises to fifth in the order.

O’Neill is batting .265/.339/.490 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBIs in 14 games. He played right last night and doubled a runner off second base.

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan O’Hearn DH
Cedric Mullins CF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Heston Kjerstad RF
Ramón Urías 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
Ramón Laureano LF

Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin, who started on Opening Day in Toronto, threw in the outfield today for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain.

The move was retroactive to April 8, making Eflin eligible to return on the 23rd. Lat injuries generally take longer to heal, and Eflin likely would need to go on a rehab assignment in the minors.

“Feel really good,” he said. “Today’s first day of throwing a baseball. Felt good, and kind of stacking good days upon each other and continue to go forward.”

The Orioles remain hopeful, as executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said yesterday, that Eflin is dealing with “a very mild lat strain” and his stay on the injured list “will be measured more in weeks than in months.”

Eflin sounded optimistic today.

“At this point, today was my first day of throwing but I’m not necessarily interested in missing a lot of time, so I think that kind of aligns for sure,” he said.

“That was the goal was pick up a baseball as soon as I can. Been doing some plyo drills the past couple days and had a baseball today in my hand, so feel good and ready to kind of keep going forward.”

That’s the only acceptable mindset on a club that also went through a slew of injuries in 2024. Grayson Rodriguez, who followed Eflin in the rotation, is out with right elbow inflammation and his next bullpen session is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Long reliever Albert Suárez could miss months with a right subscapularis strain. Outfielder Colton Cowser broke his left thumb diving into first base. Nine players are on the IL.

“It’s frustrating, but we’re in a good position organizationally to be able to have guys step up and fill some spots,” Eflin said, “but at the end of the day I’m trying to get back as soon as possible. I’m not interested in missing a lot of time.”

Jordan Westburg is on the bench tonight while battling an 0-for-20 slump.

Westburg’s health has improved but he’s scuffling, and plate umpire John Bacon didn’t do him any favors Sunday by blowing eight calls in the first three innings and twice calling third strikes on him on pitches that missed.

“Just think it’s a little bit of press,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He got banged up in that Toronto series there early and he’s had some minor things and he tried to play through it. I think he feels better now, but I think just the trying to catch up, you see him pressing through his at-bats.

“He also got punched out twice on two balls below the zone. That doesn’t help either.”

Cedric Mullins is batting cleanup tonight. He leads the Orioles in hits (15), doubles (four), home runs (four), RBIs (17), walks (10), runs (10), on-base percentage (.435) and slugging percentage (.620), and he’s tied with Jorge Mateo for the stolen base lead with three.

“Huge bright spot,” Hyde said.

“This is the best I’ve seen Ced play for a while now for me, just in the total package of what … He’s healthy, and that’s going to be important, to keep him healthy. He’s playing with a ton of confidence right now. The at-bats are incredibly competitive. He’s playing with a ton of fire and energy and his defense is fantastic. Love the way Cedric’s playing.”

Mullins can become a free agent after the season and perhaps follow former outfield mates Austin Hays and Anthony Santander out the door.

“I think he’s motivated right now probably in a lot of ways,” Hyde said. “This is the Ced from a few years ago or the Ced we saw in spurts last couple years. I think a big part of that is his health, honestly. His legs feel good and I’ve got to try to keep them that way.”

Mullins’ agent, Robin Cope, told The Athletic that the Orioles haven’t initiated contract extension talks and added, “I wish they would.”

Of course, Mullins feels the same way. It would be breaking news if he wanted out.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” Mullins said. “Just being drafted by Baltimore and just knowing what Baltimore and the city's offered me and my family over the course of my career has been nothing short of amazing. So to have those negotiations take place, it’s all in timing. But right now, focused on the day-to-day of bringing wins to the clubhouse.”

Mullins was in last night’s lineup against Guardians left-hander Logan Allen and collected the Orioles’ first hit with a single in the fifth inning. He homered in the seventh off lefty Joey Cantillo. He’s 3-for-9 with a double and homer against southpaws.

Younger left-handed hitters like Heston Kjerstad and Jackson Holliday have sat or been removed for pinch-hitters in left-on-left matchups. Hyde can’t escape the lineup and matchup questions.

“The front office signed right-handed hitters to complement and to try to help us especially against left-handed starters and left-handed bullpen arms. So I’m going to give those guys an opportunity early in the year,” he said.

“You’ve seen I haven’t hit for Jackson and Kjerstad on a few occasions against left-handed relievers lately. Those opportunities are going to continue to come, but I’m also going to give the right-handed bat an opportunity that we signed to try to help us."

Coby Mayo homered today for the third time in four games for Triple-A Norfolk in a 15-6 win over Omaha. He went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and his average has climbed to .254 with an .895 OPS.

Dylan Beavers hit his first two home runs. Maverick Handley and TT Bowens also homered.

Silas Ardoin, Creed Willems, Adam Retzbach and Frederick Bencosme homered for Double-A Chesapeake in a 10-6 win over Richmond.