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<\/p>\nTORONTO \u2013 Grayson Rodriguez did some long tossing in the outfield this afternoon and headed to the visiting bullpen for his second session since the Orioles put him on the injured list with inflammation in his right elbow\/triceps area. Rodriguez was shut down after a cortisone injection, but he\u2019s started a throwing progression.<\/p>\n
Manager Brandon Hyde clarified that the two sessions were a \u201cshort box,\u201d with the catcher set up closer than 60 feet six inches. Rodriguez will have a light session Sunday from regular distance.<\/p>\n
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\u201cKind of a mini side, a really, really light side,\u201d Hyde said. “So the side progression starts Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reliever Andrew Kittredge stood next to Rodriguez in the outfield and did some throwing. He\u2019s recovering from left knee surgery.<\/p>\n
Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop with Triple-A Norfolk to begin his rehab assignment. Hyde said Henderson probably will play at least seven innings.<\/p>\n
Samuel Basallo is serving as the designated hitter while recovering from elbow soreness that’s preventing him from throwing.<\/p>\n
Hyde was asked again today about how he\u2019s going to be careful with F\u00e9lix Bautista, and it’s more than just not using him on back-to-back days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked a lot about it,\u201d Hyde said. \u201cWhen I get him up I\u2019d love to be able to get him in a game. A lot of times closers or high-leverage guys, that\u2019s not the case. I had (Gregory) Soto up yesterday, went to somebody else when the inning was over because the lead extended. Those type of things come up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just trying to handle F\u00e9lix as well as I possibly can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jorge Mateo is in the lineup for the first time since July 23 in Miami, where he injured his left elbow in a collision with Henderson and underwent reconstructive surgery a month later. He entered last night\u2019s game in the ninth inning.<\/p>\n
Mateo\u2019s enthusiasm earlier today was easy to detect. Hyde knows about it without talking to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do because he got here super early,\u201d Hyde said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was really excited yesterday when we saw him. He feels ready to go. When he\u2019s around, he brings a lot of energy to our team. His personality, how he plays, what he\u2019s like in the dugout, the speed he brings. That\u2019s a big-time factor for us. We\u2019re all excited to watch him play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryan Mountcastle\u2019s double yesterday into the left field corner was clocked at a career-high 115.7 mph off the bat. He\u2019s more likely to start pulling the ball again with the left field wall moved in at Camden Yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s a good chance of that happening,\u201d Hyde said. \u201cThe wall took a lot of extra-base hits away from him, especially homers. He\u2019s gonna get a little more comfortable at home. When he does everything right on a baseball, to be able to get rewarded for it, I think that\u2019s going to be important.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Mounty hits the way he\u2019s capable of with the guys around him, it changes our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Morton is the oldest pitcher to start for the Orioles at 41 years and 136 days. The only pitcher older than Morton was reliever Jesse at 42 years and 160 days on Sept. 29, 1999 against the Yankees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw him from the other side of the dugout for a lot of years,\u201d Hyde said of Morton. \u201cHe approached spring training like a total veteran. Working on his command, working on his stuff. He threw the ball great in spring training, some on the back fields, some in spring training. He threw the ball extremely, extremely well. To be able to do what he\u2019s done for this long, be able to throw 95 with command and a sharp breaking ball, it says a lot about him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only that, he brings a veteran calmness and presence. It\u2019s a lot of fun to have around.\u201d<\/p>\n
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