Orioles injury update: Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias rehab, Grayson Rodriguez's return

The Orioles got a much needed walk-off victory on Wednesday afternoon to avoid being swept by the Giants, but they still find themselves 4 games back of the Yankees in the division and struggling to stay abreast of the Royals for the top Wild Card spot in the AL.

After going 3-8 in their last 11 games, the O's find themselves with three difficult series left. They'll host the red-hot Tigers this weekend before heading on a 6-game road trip to face the Yankees and Twins. That's three teams fighting for either a playoff spot or a first-round bye, so things unfortunately won't be easy for the Orioles over the next week and a half.

Thankfully the Orioles have gotten a bit of good news on the injury front ahead of the final playoff push. Both Ramon Urias and Jordan Westburg started for the Triple-A Tides on Wednesday, potentially signaling a return prior to the end of next week.

Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias should return before the end of September

Westburg's absence has been the most notable, as the 2024 All Star was on a tear before going down with a broken hand after being hit by a pitch on July 31. Through 101 games, Westburg had hit .269/.317/.497 with 18 homers, 6 steals, and strong defense between second and third base.

Westburg's injury gave the Orioles a reason to bring top prospect Jackson Holliday back up to Baltimore for his second stint in the majors but Holliday hasn't been as good as expected and it'll be a relief to get Westburg's bat back into the lineup ahead of the postseason.

Urias had been a valuable contributor as well, posting a career-best .252/.327/.427 with strong plate discipline. Though he'll likely fill a utility role when he does return, Urias has been with the Orioles since 2020 and is seen by many as a strong clubhouse presence. Coby Mayo hasn't been able to find success at the plate and will likely be on the chopping block when Urias returns.

Grayson Rodriguez could pitch out of the bullpen when he returns

Mike Elias told reporters on Tuesday that righty Grayson Rodriguez could find himself in a bullpen role when he's able to return to Baltimore. Rodriguez went down with a shoulder injury in early August and hasn't been able to return as of yet.

That could change over the next week as Elias expressed some optimism about Rodriguez's availability in the near future. While the injury has likely sapped some of Rodriguez's stamina, he could function as a reliever while he works his way back to 100%.

With the recent news of Craig Kimbrel being designated for assignment, the O's need all the help they can get in the bullpen. If Rodriguez is able to come back and give the Orioles a few strong innings, it'll be a massive boost for a team desperately in need of help in the pitching department.