The Orioles’ catching depth is in shambles after Gary Sánchez is ruled out 8–10 weeks, joining Adley Rutschman on the injured list and forcing the team to scramble.

The Baltimore Orioles are in a full-blown crisis behind the plate — and there’s no way around it.

Just weeks after losing star catcher Adley Rutschman to a left oblique strain, the Orioles were dealt another crushing blow with veteran backstop Gary Sánchez now expected to miss 8–10 weeks with a sprained right knee.

The injury occurred on a July 5 matchup against the Atlanta Braves, when Sánchez exited the game with visible discomfort and later underwent an MRI that revealed the extent of the damage.

For a team that hasn’t given up hope on playoff aspirations, losing both of its catchers in the thick of summer is disastrous.

With Baltimore not yet ready to start the clock on top prospect Samuel Basallo — the club is left scrambling for short-term solutions.

The Orioles acted quickly, acquiring catcher Alex Jackson from the Yankees to shore up the depth chart, but the situation remains shaky at best.

Orioles’ catcher crisis deepens as Gary Sánchez injury timeline revealed

In the immediate future, the Orioles will rely on a combination of Jackson and Jacob Stallings to shoulder the catching responsibilities.

It’s a patchwork platoon, and certainly not what the front office envisioned. Stallings is a known defensive commodity but doesn’t offer much with the bat.

Jackson, a former top prospect, has struggled to stick at the major league level. Neither inspires much confidence as a long-term fill-in.

The injury to Sánchez also carries ripple effects beyond just filling innings. On the season, Sánchez had posted a .231/.297/.418 slash line with five home runs and 24 RBIs — modest, but serviceable production for a backup catcher.

More importantly, his presence provided lineup balance and veteran leadership.

Complicating matters further is a vanished opportunity to use Sánchez as a potential trade chip. While it’s uncommon for teams to deal catchers midseason, the 32-year-old Sànchez had value.

Playoff contending teams like the Padres are actively exploring upgrades at the catcher position.

If the Orioles had a healthy Sánchez and a returning Rutschman, it wouldn’t have been out of the question for Baltimore to field calls and perhaps add a bullpen piece or prospect in return.

Now, that door is seemingly closed.

Rutschman, meanwhile, remains on the 10-day injured list with no definitive timetable for return.

The oblique injury, sustained during batting practice on June 21, marked the first IL stint of his career in the majors.

While the team hopes he’ll return sooner rather than later, oblique strains are notoriously fickle, especially for catchers who rely on explosive torso rotation in both hitting and throwing.

Until Rutschman returns, and Basallo’s arrival is greenlit, the Orioles’ catching situation will be a high-wire act with no safety net.