Gunnar Henderson is playing for Triple-A Norfolk again tonight in Charlotte. It could be the last game on his injury rehab assignment.

The Orioles need a little more time to decide.

Henderson is 5-for-16 with two home runs in four games with the Tides. He’ll stay on the field for seven-to-nine innings tonight.

The complication in reinstating Henderson is the 1:05 p.m. start time for Thursday’s game against the Red Sox. The travel is a consideration.

Otherwise, Henderson would make the trip to Kansas City for the weekend series against the Royals.

“I talked to him yesterday, he’s feeling really good,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“Unfortunate we have a day game tomorrow, but we’re gonna have to see where he is after the game tonight.”

Henderson strained his right intercostal while catching Bo Bichette’s line drive on Feb. 27 in Sarasota. He couldn’t get ready in time for Opening Day but received plenty of at-bats on the back fields and more on his rehab assignment.

A team that lost outfielder Colton Cowser to a fractured thumb could use a healthy Henderson in the lineup.

“It was such an unfortunate, weird play that happened in spring training, kind of crunched his side a little bit and just had to give it some time to heal,” Hyde said. “Let’s hope it goes well tonight.”

When Henderson rejoins the Orioles, he’s going to get back into his usual role: everyday shortstop and leadoff hitter.

“I’m not sure if that’s gonna be tomorrow or it’s gonna be in Kansas City,” Hyde said, “but yeah, he’s gonna be up there.”

Grayson Rodriguez threw his second light bullpen session earlier today, a follow-up to his first one in Toronto. He also has thrown two “short box” sessions with the catcher set up closer to the mound.

Hyde said Jordan Westburg, who’s leading off again tonight, is feeling “way better.” Trevor Rogers and Chayce McDermott are throwing side sessions.

Tomoyuki Sugano is fine to make his next start this weekend after leaving his debut with cramping in both hands.

Sugano said via his interpreter that it’s happened in previous years in Japan. Asked if there are preventative measures, Hyde said, “I think it’s a hydration issue, so hydrate, bananas.”

“It’s a hand cramp, and so when I went out there, he really couldn’t move his hand very well. Now we know, and hopefully we can keep him hydrated,” Hyde said.

“That was in a climate-controlled environment and it doesn’t get that way here, so we’ve got to make sure he’s hydrated.”

Jackson Holliday is sitting tonight against left-hander Garrett Crochet, one of the best pitchers in baseball. It won’t always be this way for Holliday, but Hyde went with Jorge Mateo at shortstop and Jordan Westburg at second base.

“It’s a tough matchup for any lefty against Crochet, so I wouldn’t say it’s every time, but I think the tough lefty matchup, we get a couple other guys in there,” Hyde said. “See how the year plays out. It’s still really early. Loved the swing he took on (Sean) Newcomb a couple days ago. That’s the best left-on-left swing I’ve seen him take in a year-plus. He really stayed on the baseball and drove that line drive over the shortstop’s head.”

For the Red Sox

Jarren Duran LF
Rafael Devers DH
Alex Bregman 3B
Triston Casas 1B
Trevor Story SS
Wilyer Abreu RF
Kristian Campbell 2B
Connor Wong C
Ceddanne Rafaela CF

Garrett Crochet LHP