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Grayson Rodriguez scratched from start against Blue Jays, Albert Suarez to start in his place

Grayson Rodriguez scratched from start against Blue Jays, Albert Suarez to start in his place

August 6, 2024

TORONTO — Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was scratched from Tuesday’s start at Toronto minutes before the first pitch because of pain in his upper back and shoulder.

Right-handed reliever Albert Suárez got the start in place of Rodriguez.

The Orioles said Rodriguez was scratched because of discomfort in his right latissimus dorsi and teres major, two muscles that help move the upper arm.

Rodriguez was on the injured list April 30-May 18 because of right shoulder inflammation.

The 24-year-old Rodriguez is 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 20 starts for the AL East-leading Orioles, tied with Atlanta’s Chris Sale and Kansas City’s Seth Lugo for the major league lead in victories.

Baltimore’s first-round pick in the 2018 draft, Rodriguez has won five of his last six decisions. He went 7-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 23 starts as a rookie last season.

Suárez struck out six in five shutout innings. He walked two and allowed two hits, both singles.

The Baltimore Orioles have announced that top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez has been scratched from his scheduled start against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his place, the team will turn to right-hander Albert Suarez to take the mound.

Rodriguez, who is ranked as the Orioles’ number one prospect and one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, was originally slated to make his major league debut in this start. However, the team has decided to err on the side of caution and give him some extra rest before his first appearance in the big leagues.

Suarez, on the other hand, is a veteran pitcher who has bounced around the minor leagues and made brief appearances in the majors with the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners. He has a career 4.51 ERA in 42 major league appearances, mostly as a reliever.

While Suarez may not have the same level of hype surrounding him as Rodriguez, he will have the opportunity to prove himself and potentially earn a spot in the Orioles’ starting rotation. The 31-year-old right-hander has shown flashes of potential in the past and will look to make the most of this unexpected opportunity.

It remains to be seen whether Rodriguez’s absence from this start is due to injury or simply a precautionary measure. The Orioles will likely provide more information on his status in the coming days. In the meantime, fans will have to wait a little longer to see the highly anticipated debut of Grayson Rodriguez.